Settlement Units in the Quran

Abstract

The settlements of the tribes in the Quran are usually referred to as qarya, diyar, balad, madina and misr. The use of these names in different contexts for many tribes shows that they are not special settlements. The settlement units mentioned are the places where people live together and settled. In this respect, these settlement units are mentioned as the synonym of each other. However, when the context is taken into consideration, it is seen that the different unit names used for the settlement of a tribe characterize that settlement from different angles. Qarya emphasizes people living in unity and solidarity. Balad emphasizes the land that lives on. Diyar emphasizes houses and buildings. Madina is used for settlements with a combination between them. Therefore, madina is home to various human elements. The name of a settlement as a misr is due to its differentiation from the settlements around it. This differentiation is in terms of development. On the other hand, miwr is the name of the settlement where various products are grown or found.