The Source Domains in Conceptual Metaphors of Faith and Disbelief in Holy Qur'an

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Theology and Religions, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD in Islamic Studies and Lecturer at the Faculty of Theology and Religions, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Based on the recent findings of cognitive sciences, the human mind uses everyday sensory experiences to represent abstract concepts based on objective concepts. According to cognitive linguistics, metaphor is a mental-linguistic process. There are many evidences of this way of conceptualization in the Holy Qur'an. Considering the frequency of the words faith and disbelief in the Qur'an and the numerous traditions that have been narrated from Ahl al-Bayt (as) about faith and disbelief, it shows that faith and disbelief have been the concern of Muslims since the very beginning of Islam, so that these concepts are one of the most important believing components. The duality of faith and disbelief is an important angle in the metaphorical conceptualizations of the Qur'an. These metaphors have been formed in a broad context of cultural ideas and have been influenced by the common experiences of the time when the Qur'an was revealed. This research aims to answer the question, "What are the starting areas in the conceptualization of faith and disbelief in the Qur'an?" In order to collect data, the metaphor detection process proposed by the Pragglejaz Group has been used. Concepts such as "light and darkness", "purity and pollution", "business", "colors", "elements of nature", "death and life", "slave and free" and "body parts" are among the source domains that the Qur'an uses to conceptualize faith and disbelief. This study shows a high degree of systematicity in the linguistic metaphors of faith and disbelief. Therefore, not only one can explain the motivation of many expressions of the Qur'an by metaphorical conceptualization, but also these metaphors provide a cognitive or cultural model with the duality of faith and disbelief. It seems that the direct experience and complete familiarity of human beings with the areas of "body parts" and "health and disease" have caused these areas to have more frequency in the conceptualization of faith and disbelief.

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Main Subjects

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Researches of Quran and Hadith Sciences
Volume 21, Issue 2 - Serial Number 62
September 2024
Pages 139-164

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History

  • Receive Date: 30 July 2023
  • Revise Date: 16 December 2023
  • Accept Date: 24 February 2024

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