Preliminary study on selected Qur’anic verses (Chapter 1-10) on hearing sciences: a thematic analysis

The Quran is a book of guidance (kitabu hidayah) addressing various disciplines, including functions of the natural order (Qawanin al-tabi’ah) such as audio-visual functions. This paper aims to study the nature, themes and styles of hearing mentioned in the Quran. To do so, this study compiled the Quranic verses (Chapter 1-10) related to hearing sciences. It then derived themes from the compiled verses for further discussion on emerging themes related to hearing sciences. This descriptive-qualitative study used scoping review frameworks to systematically compile Quranic verses (Chapter1-10) related to hearing sciences using 39 pre-determined Keywords (e.g. Ear, deaf, listen) via two Quran search engines: Search Truth and Search the Quran. Theme/s for the Qur’anic verses that met the inclusion criteria were determined using thematic analysis (in reference to Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Quran Commentaries by Abdullah Yusuf ‘Ali, along with expert committee discussion). A comprehensive commentary supported by findings from literature was formed for verses that were categorised under the ‘hearing perception’ theme. Out of 69 identified verses containing relevant Keywords, only 59 verses met the inclusion criteria and were further analysed. Thematic analysis on these 59 verses yields 4 themes which are ‘Attributes of God (Allah)’, ‘Attributes of God (false god)’, ‘Hearing perception’, and ‘Islamic law’. From 59 verses, 36 verses were categorized under the ‘hearing perception’ theme and further discussed using thematic analysis of interpretation. This study discovered that hearing sciences had been addressed in the Quran to the extent that details of the specific themes may be analysed interpretatively using the interpretative analysis method (tafsīr taḥlilī) of related Quranic verses. The findings may serve as a future reference for Muslim and non-Muslim scientists seeking a better understanding on the Quranic concept of hearing related terminologies