Manifestations of Multiple Intelligences in Surah al-Kahf (A Case Study of the Stories of Prophet Moses and al-Khidr, Peace be Upon Them, and Dhul-Qarnayn) from Howard Gardner’s Perspective

Understanding multiple intelligences helps uncover the strengths and effectiveness embedded in Qur’anic narratives. Intelligence is considered a biological–psychological capacity for processing information that can be activated in diverse cultural contexts, enabling individuals to solve problems in their societies and produce works of value. This study adopts a descriptive–analytical methodology to describe the presence of various types of intelligences in this surah, drawing upon the content and insights highlighted by major exegetes in the Islamic world, with a focus on classical tafsīr works such as al-Ṭabarī, al-Qurṭubī, and al-Bayḍāwī, renowned for elucidating the deeper meanings of the verses. The findings reveal that the surah contains clear indicators of diverse intelligences, reflecting divine care in achieving human completeness and accommodating the variety of human capacities. Results also show that in the story of Moses and al-Khidr, the prominent intelligences include intrapersonal, linguistic–verbal, and spatial–visual, among others. In the story of Dhul-Qarnayn, the emphasis is on linguistic–verbal, social, and bodily–kinesthetic intelligences. The study further aims to uncover Qur’anic implications within the surah that point to or encourage these intelligences. Researchers recommend employing practical tools in the field of multiple intelligences and call for further studies on the stories of Moses, al-Khidr, and Dhul-Qarnayn in light of contemporary educational theories to explore the meanings and implications embedded therein.

کلیدواژه ها:

stories of Prophet Moses and al-Khidr ، Dhul-Qarnayn ، multiple intelligences ، Howard Gardner