AWEJ for Translation & Literary Studies, Volume 5, Number3.  August  2021                       Pp.169 -184
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awejtls/vol5no3.12

Full Paper PDF

‘Light’ as a Source Domain for Metaphors in the Holy Quran 

Marwa Ibrahim Elamin
College of languages and Translation, Najran University, Najran
Saudi Arabia
Correspoding Author: miibrahim@nu.edu.sa

Albatool Ahmed Alhazmi
College of languages and Translation, Najran University, Najran
Saudi Arabia 

 

Received: 6/14/2021               Accepted: 7/11/2021              Published: 8/25/2021

 

Abstract:
Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) sees metaphor as a means to conceptualize abstracts in everyday discourse employing concrete.  This research investigates the use of “Light” (Nur in Arabic) metaphorically as a source domain to several concepts (target domains) in the Quran, for instance, “THE QURAN IS LIGHT”. The study explores the power of metaphor in non-literary discourse relying on Conceptual Metaphor Theory and its hypotheses. Additionally, it will identify the target domains to which light is used as a source domain. Furthermore, it will examine whether ‘Light’ has been used as a target domain or it is a unidirectional relation that made it a source domain only in all the occurrences in the Quran. For the purpose of this study, the researchers used a descriptive-analytical approach in discourse analysis. Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) is used as a tool for checking metaphor. The search in the sacred text resulted in (43) occurrences of the word ‘Nur.’ This research proved that metaphor of light is used ubiquitously and creatively to explain different crucial concepts in the Quran.
Keywords: conceptual metaphor theory, light, religious discourse, the Holy Quran, unidirectionality

Cite as:  Elamin, M. I.,&  Alhazmi, A. A.  (2021). ‘Light’ as a Source Domain for Metaphors in the Holy Quran.
Arab World English Journal for Translation & Literary Studies 5 (3) 169 -184.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awejtls/vol5no3.12

References

Al-Damaghani. (1985). “NUR.” In O. Leaman, The Qur’an: An Encyclopedia (pp. 467-468). London and New York: Taylor & Francis Routledge.

Alhusban, A. M., & Alkhawalda, M. (2018). Meaning Construction of Selected Quranic Metaphors. International Journal of Linguistics, 134-146.

Ali, Y. (2006). The Meaning of the Noble Quran: Translation and Commentary. New York: Alamana Publishers. Retrieved from https://quranyusufali.com/.

Aljurjani, A. (2008). Dala’il Ali?jaz (Proof of Miracles). Jeddah : Almadeni Publishers.

Aljurjani, A. (2013). Asrar Albalgha (Secrets of Rhetoric). Cairo, Jeddah: Almadani Publishers.

Alshingiti. (2021). Surah Annor Tafsir (exegeses of the Annor Chapter). Retrieved from Almaktabat Alshshamilat Alhaditha: https://al-maktaba.org/book/7697/6

Assaadi, A. A. (2020). Taysir AlKarim AlRahman Fi Tafsir Kalam Amannan (Facilitation of the Most Merciful to the interpretation of the Holy Quran). Riyadh, Riyadh, K.S.A. Retrieved from https://quran.ksu.edu.sa/tafseer/saadi/sura2-aya257.html

Assakaki, Y. (1987). Muftah Aloloom (Key of Knowledge), Alkotub Al?ilmia Publishers, Bairut.

Attabari, I. J. (2020, August 1-30). Jami? Albayan Fi TaWeel AlQuran (Collection of Rhetoric in Interpretation of the Quran). Riyadh, Riyadh, K.S.A. Available at  https://quran.ksu.edu.sa/tafseer/tabary/sura2-aya257.html

Atturmuthi, A. M. (1986). Mukhtasar Ashamail Almuhammadiah, verified by M.I. Alalbani. Riyadh: Amaarif Publishers.

Azzamakhshari, A. (n.d.). Alkashaf. Bairut: Dar Alkitab Alarabi.

Azzarkashi, B. (1957). Alburhan fi Oloom Alquran, verified by M.A. Ibrahim. Cairo: Dar atturath Publishers.

Berrada, K. (2006). Metaphors of Light and Darkness in the Holy Quran: A Conceptual Approach. Bassamat, 45-64.

Cameron, L. (2003). Metaphor in Educational Discourse . London: Continuum.

Elhindi, Y. (2017). Metaphors in the Quran: A Thematic Categorization. QURANICA International Journal of Quranic Research, vol.9 Issue no1.1 Pp. 1-20. DOI:doi:10.22452/quranica.

Fatani, A. (2006). Nur. Retrieved from The Quran: An Encyclopedia. Available at https://books.google.com.sa/books?id=isDgI0-0Ip4C&pg=PA467&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Ibn Kathir, M. (2020, August 1-30). Tafsir AlQuran AlAzim. Riyadh, Riyadh, K.S.A. Available at https://quran.ksu.edu.sa/tafseer/katheer/sura2-aya257.html

Jackel, O. (1999). “Kant, Blumenberg, Weinrich: Some Forgotten Contributions to the Cognitive Theory of Metaphor.” Metaphor in Cognitive Linguistics, pp. 9-27.

Jackel, O. (2002). Cognitive Theory of Metaphor Applied to Religious Texts. Available at Metaphorik.de.

Kovecses, Z. (2010). Metaphor. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Kovecses, Z. (2011). Recent developments in metaphor theory. In F. Gonzálvez-García, M. Cervel and L. Pérez-Hernández (eds.), Metaphor and Metonymy revisited beyond the Contemporary Theory of Metaphor (pp. 1-25). John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Lakoff, G., & Turner, M. (1989). More Than Cool Reason, A Feild Guide to Understanding Poetic Metaphor. Chicago and London: Chicago University Press.

Pragglejazz, G. (2007). MIP: A Method for Identifying Metaphorically Used Words in Discourse. Metaphor and Symbol, 22(1), 1-39.

Sharaf Eldin, A. (2014). A Cognitive Metaphorical Analysis of Selected Verses in the Holy Quran. International Journal of English Linguistics, 4(6), 16-21.

Shokr, M. A. (2006). The Metaphorical Concept of “Life is a Journey”. Metaphorik.de, 94-132.

Thabit, M. (2011). The Metaphor of Nature in the Holy Quran: A Critical Metaphor Analysis. Language in India, 12(11), 628-653.

Wiesrsma, W., & Jurs, S. (2005). Research Methods in Education: An Introduction. US: Pearson/ Allyn and Bacon.

 

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
Reddit
Email
StumbleUpon
Digg
Received: 6/14/2021 
Accepted: 7/11/2021  
Published: 8/25/2021 
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6664-2212
http://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awejtls/vol5no3.12

Dr. Marwa Ibrahim Elamin is an assistant professor in English Department, college of languages and translation, Najran university. She has presented a paper in university of South Denmark, Odense, Denmark as part of a conference by Researching and Applying Metaphor Association and it is published under the title “Conceptual metaphors of Love in ‘Happy New Year’ a poem by Suad Assabah”. Areas of interest are: language teaching and learning, cognitive linguistics and translation.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6664-2212

Dr. Albatool Ahmad Alhazmi is an assistant professor in English Dept. and vice dean of the college of languages and translation, Najran University. She has her masters and PhD. From UNSW, Australia. Research areas are discourse analysis, language acquisition and bilingualism. She has a paper published under the title: “Linguistic Aspects of Arabic-English Code Switching on Facebook and Radio in Australia”. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3737-524X