Verbal evidence rests on the exact letters, vowels or position of the words; many judgements about jinās and sajʿ are of this kind. Semantic evidence rests on relations between meanings, such as antithesis or the matching elements in laff wa-nashr. Contextual evidence determines intended meaning and is indispensable when distinguishing metaphor from kināyah.
QuestionDecisive evidence
Is the paronomasia complete?Letter identity, number, vocalization and order
Is the enumeration parallel?The respective links between the listed elements and their properties
Is the expression nonliteral?A literal-blocking indicator and a valid relation
A justification is adequate only if its evidence actually establishes the claimed category.