The Semantics of the Word Istikbar (Arrogance) in the Holy Quran based on Syntagmatic Relations(A Case Study of Semantic Proximity and Semantic Contrast)

The word istikbar (arrogance) is one of the key words in the monotheistic system of the Quran, which has found a special status as a special feature of the opponents and adversaries of the call to the truth. Given the prominent role of this issue in the human life system and its provision of corruption and moral deviations, it is necessary to represent the nature of the elements that make up the semantic network of istikbar. Using the descriptive-analytical method, the present study aims, first, to analyze the lexical concept of this word and, then, to examine the semantic relations of the word istikbar with the words which co-occur with it, so that some of the syntagmatic elements of this word such as semantic proximity, semantic contrast and semantic field are illuminated through case analysis. The results show that istikbar is in close proximity with Satan, infidels, polytheists, affluent people and voluptuaries, and concepts such as selfishness, atheism and ingratitude, fanaticism, group-preference and infiltration-seeking are included in the semantic network of istikbar. This word is further in semantic contrast with concepts such as faith, servantship, obedience, forgiveness and ‘the state of being oppressed’, and it is effective in leading man towards falsehood and the emergence of the major moral vices. Importantly, the estimation of meaning based on this linguistic mechanism is considered a methodical model and following the discovery of implicit meanings, it has tackled the degree of semantic degradation and status degradation of istikbar by Quranic standards.