A Statistical Analysis of Compassion and Violence-related themes in Meccan and Medinan Surahs: Analysis of a dubious claim

Banitalebi, Maedeh; Darzi, Ghasem; Moradi, Mostafa

doi:10.22054/rjqk.2025.84943.3095

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Master's degree in Quranic Sciences, Department of Miracles, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

² Corresponding author): Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Quranic Studies, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

³ Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Quranic Studies, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22054/rjqk.2025.84943.3095

Abstract

A dubious claim made by critics, particularly Orientalists, suggests that the Prophet Muhammad's approach underwent a fundamental shift from the Meccan to the Medinan period. It is argued that while his messages during the Meccan phase were predominantly peace-oriented and centered on Compassion, the acquisition of power and authority in Medina led to the adoption of a more violent approach, and this is purportedly reflected in the Meccan and Medinan Surahs of the Qur’an. To examine this claim, a statistical study was conducted to compare the frequency of compassion and violence-related themes in Meccan and Medinan Surahs. In doing so, phrases associated with compassion and violence were scored, and the resulting values were normalized for comparative analysis. The findings indicate that the prevalence of violence-related themes is 0.20 in Meccan Surahs and 0.19 in Medinan Surahs, while compassion-related themes appear with a frequency of 0.21 in Meccan Surahs and 0.24 in Medinan Surahs. The results don’t corroborate the aforementioned claim, demonstrating that the Medinan period—characterized by the establishment and expansion of governance—displays an even greater emphasis on Compassion. Additionally, the thematic variations between Meccan and Medinan Surahs correspond to the historical and social contexts of each period. These findings underscore the necessity of revisiting such interpretations and employing statistical methodologies in the analysis of religious and historical concepts.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Quran and Quranic teachings ,Quranic studies, comparative interpretation, Quranic doubts and Quranic language

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Quranic Knowledge Research

A Statistical Analysis of Compassion and Violence-related themes in Meccan and Medinan Surahs: Analysis of a dubious claim

References

References

Volume 16, Issue 62
September 2025
Pages 17-33

A Statistical Analysis of Compassion and Violence-related themes in Meccan and Medinan Surahs: Analysis of a dubious claim

References

References

Volume 16, Issue 62September 2025Pages 17-33

Volume 16, Issue 62
September 2025
Pages 17-33