The Role of Qur’anic Parables in Moral Training

Abstract

The Qur’ān employs parables (al-Amthāl al-Qur’āniyyah) as a highly effective rhetorical device to awaken human consciousness and clarify complex realities. These parables not only strengthen the foundations of faith and belief but also play a significant role in shaping legal awareness, judicial ethics, social reform, and the field of da‘wah, extending even to contemporary digital platforms. The purpose of this research is to highlight the enduring relevance of Qur’ānic parables in modern contexts, enabling individuals, societies, and states to orient their intellectual and practical directions in light of divine guidance.

This study is divided into five main sections:

The first introduces the concept of Qur’ānic parables, including their linguistic and technical definitions with reference to classical exegetes.

The second discusses the importance of parables in fostering legal and judicial consciousness, citing interpretations from scholars such as al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, and Ibn Kathīr alongside the views of muḥaddithūn and fuqahā’.

The third highlights the role of parables in social reform and in addressing moral and societal corruption.

The fourth elaborates on the function of parables in guiding the intellectual development of the younger generation.

The fifth emphasizes the global moral message of Qur’ānic parables, their wisdom in the field of da‘wah, and their application on social media and digital platforms.

The findings reveal that Qur’ānic parables owing to their brevity, comprehensiveness, and wisdom serve as a powerful means of reforming beliefs and morals, promoting legal and ethical awareness, ensuring social justice, safeguarding the intellectual integrity of youth, and advancing universal moral values. A profound study and contextualized application of these parables is essential to protect Muslim societies from intellectual deviation and to ensure their positive engagement with global challenges.

Keywords: Qur’anic Parables, Moral Training, Ethical Guidance, Spiritual Development, Islamic Education