Downwash in Aircraft Lift Mechanism: An Analytical Study From The Perspective of The Quranic Thematic Tafsir

Abstract

Scientific Qur'anic exegesis on aircraft lift has often emphasized Bernoulli's principle, while discussions of downwash, airflow momentum transfer, and Newton's third law need further development. This study aims to analyze aircraft lift mechanisms through Qur'anic thematic exegesis and develop a conceptual framework termed the Newtonian–Downwash Causal Chain. Employing qualitative-analytical library research, the study adopts Abdul Hayy al-Farmawi's thematic exegesis method. Data were analyzed through linguistic examination, thematic relationships among verses, authoritative exegetical interpretations, and conceptual correlations with aerodynamic literature. The primary verses examined are Surah Al-Mulk [67]:19 and Surah An-Nahl [16]:79, with Surah Yasin [36]:36 serving as a supplementary verse. The findings indicate that aerodynamic lift can be explained through wing–air interaction, pressure distribution, downward airflow deflection (downwash), and momentum transfer based on Newtonian principles. The proposed relationships between yaqbidhn and downwash, azwāj and action–reaction forces, and tashkhīr and the regularity of the air medium constitute interpretive correlations developed by the researchers rather than direct semantic equivalences or empirical evidence that modern aerodynamic theories are explicitly stated in the Qur'anic verses. The study concludes that the Newtonian–Downwash Causal Chain enriches scientific exegesis by integrating Bernoulli-based and Newtonian explanations as complementary aerodynamic perspectives while maintaining epistemological distinctions between Qur'anic interpretation and contemporary scientific reconstruction.