Vinegar in Quranic and Prophetic Discourse: An Inquisitive Semantic Analysis of Islamic Ethical Dimensions

This study explores how Quranic and Prophetic discourse transforms ordinary food references (specifically vinegar (al-khall)) into tools of ethical reflection within Islamic dietary ethics. While previous scholarship has emphasized the legal status (ḥalāl/ḥarām) or biomedical benefits of vinegar, its semantic and figurative roles as moral pedagogy remain underexplored. To address this gap, this qualitative textual study applies Inquisitive Semantics, a three-tiered model (script, resonance, inquiry), supported by Relevance Theory in the second stage of analysis. The integration of Relevance Theory strengthens the interpretive process by ex- plaining how contextual assumptions, inferential reasoning, and cognitive effects interact to construct deeper moral meanings. The compact corpus comprises the Quranic verse Surah al-Naḥl (16:67) alongside two key Prophetic reports: the praise of vinegar as an excellent condiment and the parable comparing moral corruption to vinegar spoiling honey. The implicit meanings and ethical implications embedded in these expressions are elucidated through the Inquisitive Semantics framework, which systematically connects textual, cognitive, and ethical dimensions. Findings reveal that vinegar, across Quranic and Prophetic registers, functions not merely as a household condiment but as a symbolic index of moderation, gratitude, and moral integrity. This study contributes to Quranic and Hadith scholarship by demonstrating how Inquisitive Semantics, reinforced with Relevance Theory, can uncover multi-layered moral meanings often overlooked in Islamic dietary ethics research. More broadly, it bridges revelatory texts with contemporary ethical concerns such as sustainability, human well-being, and the cultivation of balanced moral character.