Contextual Meanings of Dābbah (دابة) in the Qur’an: A Corpus-Assisted Semantic Analysis

Abstract

The Qur'anic term dābbah (دابة) occurs in different textual contexts, making its meaning difficult to explain through a single lexical equivalent. This study examines the contextual meanings of dābbah by analyzing all singular occurrences in the Qur'an using a digital corpus-assisted textual approach. The Quranic Arabic Corpus was used to identify and verify the data, while contextual semantic analysis, Arabic lexicographical sources, and Qur'anic exegesis supported interpretation. The dataset comprises 14 occurrences across 14 verses in 12 surahs. The analysis identifies six contextual patterns: creation and propagation of creatures, being as a community, sustenance and protection by Allah, power and submission to Allah, punishment and consequences of human actions, and specific referents. Creation and propagation of creatures is the most frequent pattern, accounting for five occurrences (35.7%). The findings indicate that dābbah generally retains its basic reference to a living or moving creature, while its specific referent and semantic nuances depend on each verse's textual context. Thus, contextual variation does not necessarily indicate a complete change in lexical meaning. By combining systematic corpus-based data retrieval with contextual interpretation, Arabic lexicography, and Qur'anic exegesis, this study demonstrates a transparent and traceable application of digital humanities methods to Qur'anic semantic analysis.