LessonsFour Types of Rational Figurative Predication: Quranic and Nondeclarative ExamplesQuiz

TypePredicateSubjectExample
1LiteralLiteralأَنْبَتَ الرَّبِيعُ الْبَقْلَ
2FigurativeFigurativeأَحْيَا الْأَرْضَ شَبَابُ الزَّمَانِ
3LiteralFigurativeأَنْبَتَ الْبَقْلَ شَبَابُ الزَّمَانِ
4FigurativeLiteralأَحْيَا الْأَرْضَ الرَّبِيعُ

All four still exhibit figurative predication. Type 1 is not a literal *predication* merely because both the subject and predicate have their ordinary lexical meanings.

Types 2–4 combine rational figurative predication with differing amounts of lexical figurative usage. Always analyze word meanings before the relation of attribution.

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The four combinations at a glance

Four Types of Rational Figurative Predication: Quranic and Nondeclarative Examples

TypePredicateSubjectExample
1LiteralLiteralأَنْبَتَ الرَّبِيعُ الْبَقْلَ
2FigurativeFigurativeأَحْيَا الْأَرْضَ شَبَابُ الزَّمَانِ
3LiteralFigurativeأَنْبَتَ الْبَقْلَ شَبَابُ الزَّمَانِ
4FigurativeLiteralأَحْيَا الْأَرْضَ الرَّبِيعُ

All four still exhibit figurative predication. Type 1 is not a literal *predication* merely because both the subject and predicate have their ordinary lexical meanings.

Types 2–4 combine rational figurative predication with differing amounts of lexical figurative usage. Always analyze word meanings before the relation of attribution.