In questions on jinās, qalb and sajʿ, begin with letters and sound; in tawriyah, mushākalah and kināyah, focus on semantic use; in simile and metaphor, establish the relation or transfer between terms. Evidence should be collected at the appropriate level before an impressive label is selected.
Level of examinationTypical devices
Letter identity and orderJinās, qalb
End sound, pattern, rhymeSajʿ, muwāzanah
Semantic relationship and contrastṬibāq, muqābalah
Context and transferIstiʿārah, majāz
Implication and occasionKināyah, taʿrīḍ