قرآنِ کریم میں مستقبل کا تصور: اصول، مظاہر اور معاصر اطلاقات کا تجزیاتی مطالعہ

The Concept of Future in the Holy Qur’an: An Analytical Study of Principles, Manifestations and Contemporary Applications

Abstract

This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the concept of future in the Holy Qur’an, examining its theoretical foundations, practical manifestations, and contemporary applications. The study investigates how the Qur’an conceptualizes future events through three distinct modalities: divine promises (wa‘d), prophetic foretellings (ikhbār bi al-ghayb), and human responsibility toward future-oriented action. Drawing upon classical exegetical sources and contemporary futures studies frameworks, the paper argues that the Qur’anic vision of the future transcends mere prediction, offering instead an integrated paradigm where divine sovereignty, human free will, and moral accountability converge. The research analyzes key Qur’anic narratives including the story of Prophet Yusuf‘s economic foresight, the eschatological promises of the Hereafter, and the principle of “Insha’Allah” as a metaphysical framework for future-oriented consciousness. Special attention is devoted to the concept of “inheritance of the earth” (istikhlāf) as a Qur’anic prophecy of collective future. The study concludes that the Qur’an provides a dynamic framework for futures thinking that balances certainty about divine promises with responsible human agency in shaping preferable futures.