Lexical and Phonological Layer Analysis of Surah An-Nisa from a Stylistic Perspective

Abstract

A brief review of scholarly works in literary criticism reveals the significant position of stylistics within this field of research. In stylistic analysis, literary elements—regardless of their lexical form—are examined with a focus on aesthetics and technical value, since the primary artistic merit of literature as a verbal art lies in the manner of expression in relation to specific content. The Holy Qur’an, as a divine book, is an outstanding literary work bestowed upon humanity by God, and its interpretation is impossible without understanding and reflecting on its unique stylistic features. One of the Qur’an’s techniques in conveying thoughts and ideas is its distinguished and exalted eloquence—an eloquence that has often been considered the unique source of its miraculous nature. Given that rhetoric is traditionally categorized into three branches—ma‘ani (semantics), bayan (figurative speech), and badi‘ (embellishments)—this article focuses on the stylistic analysis of semantic rhetorical devices (known as maḥasin maʿnawī) employed in Surah An-Nisa. These include taṭbīq (antithesis), muqābala (contrast), mushākala (paronomasia), tawriya (double entendre), tawjīh (rationalization), murāʿāt al-naẓīr (observance of parallels), jamʿ (aggregation), tafrīq (differentiation), and the combined use of division with aggregation and differentiation. The study proceeds to examine and analyze the technical functions of these rhetorical features in the Surah.