<![CDATA[Purpose - Contemporary Qur'anic studies and Islamic education have predominantly emphasized linguistic, normative, and cognitive dimensions of the Qur'an, often overlooking its spiritual, symbolic, and transformative aspects. This study investigates the conceptual function of Qur'anic metaphor in QS. Az-Zumar: 9, particularly the distinction between alladhīna ya'lamūn (those who know) and alladhīna lā ya'lamūn (those who do not know), in order to demonstrate that 'ilm in the Qur'anic worldview represents an integrated form of cognitive, ethical, and spiritual awareness. Design/methodology/approach - This study employs a qualitative-conceptual approach based on library research. Data were collected from the Qur'anic text, classical tafsīr literature, and relevant works in Islamic epistemology and cognitive studies. The analysis combines epistemological, semantic, and spiritual approaches within the framework of Qur'anic Cognitive Science (QCS) to examine the conceptual and transformative functions of Qur'anic metaphor. Findings - The study reveals that QS. Az-Zumar: 9 constructs a Qur'anic cognitive framework that differentiates two modes of human perception and understanding. The interrogative metaphor hal yastawī functions as a cognitive trigger that encourages self-reflection on knowledge, ethical orientation, and spiritual commitment. Within the QCS framework, alladhīna ya'lamūn represents holistic knowledge characterized by intellectual, moral, and spiritual integration, whereas alladhīna lā ya'lamūn signifies epistemic deficiency arising from the absence of awareness, ethical responsibility, and divine orientation. Research implications/limitations - The study is limited to the analysis of QS. Az-Zumar: 9 and selected classical exegetical sources. Further research may apply the proposed framework to other Qur'anic metaphors and broader contexts of Islamic education and cognitive studies. Originality/value - This article demonstrates that Qur'anic metaphor functions not merely as a rhetorical device but as a transformative conceptual and epistemological mechanism. It contributes to the development of a holistic Islamic epistemology by integrating cognitive, ethical, and spiritual dimensions within the emerging field of Qur'anic Cognitive Science.]]>
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