The Application of Emotion Cognition in the Abstract Vocabulary of the Qur’an: An Analysis from a Psycholinguistic Perspective
Keywords:
Qur’anic abstract vocabulary, emotion cognition, psycholinguistics, radial network, emotion regulation, mental healthAbstract
The Holy Qur’an, beyond being an inspirational text, constitutes an integrated cognitive–affective system that influences the audience’s cognitive and emotional processes through abstract vocabulary. The present study, adopting a qualitative approach and a descriptive–analytical method and employing thematic analysis, examines the application of emotion cognition in the abstract vocabulary of the Qur’an from the perspective of psycholinguistics. Data were collected through purposive sampling of verses containing terms such as taqwā (piety), sakīnah (tranquility), rajāʾ (hope), and khashyah (awe), and were analyzed within the theoretical frameworks of cognitive linguistics and the psychology of emotion. Accordingly, following data coding and analysis, the core category of “Qur’anic abstract vocabulary as tools for emotion cognition” was identified, along with the following subcategories: “naming and differentiating complex emotions,” “emotion regulation through cognitive reappraisal,” “induction of positive emotions through conceptual metaphors,” and “therapeutic and preventive functions in mental health.” The findings indicate that Qur’anic abstract vocabulary, within a radial network framework, not only carries rich cognitive meanings but also functions as a set of tools for emotion cognition, emotion regulation through cognitive reappraisal, and the induction of positive emotions via conceptual metaphors. These mechanisms demonstrate clear therapeutic functions and are aligned with contemporary psychotherapeutic approaches, including cognitive–behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies. Overall, the results suggest that the Holy Qur’an represents a rich source of evidence-based psychological strategies that can be utilized in religious–psychological counseling and in the promotion of community mental health.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Hamed Vashani (Author); Kamran Mehregan; Goodarz Shakibaei, Bahman Gorjian (Author)
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