LessonsIstiʿārah: Definition, Figurative Identification and the Linguistic–Intellectual DebateQuiz

لَا بُدَّ لِلْمَجَازِ مِنْ قَرِينَةٍ مَانِعَةٍ
Figurative language requires a contextual indication excluding the literal sense.

In “I saw a lion shooting,” “shooting” points away from the zoological lion. In “I saw a Ḥātim today,” situational and historical context can indicate that a generous contemporary person is meant, not the famous Ḥātim al-Ṭāʾī. The indicator need not always be an explicit extra word; usage, situation and context can guide the interpretation.

The relation explains why the sense can move from lion to man; the indicator explains why the literal lion is not intended in this occurrence. These are distinct rhetorical functions.

Opening interactive controls...

The necessity and function of a contextual indicator

Istiʿārah: Definition, Figurative Identification and the Linguistic–Intellectual Debate

لَا بُدَّ لِلْمَجَازِ مِنْ قَرِينَةٍ مَانِعَةٍ
Figurative language requires a contextual indication excluding the literal sense.

In “I saw a lion shooting,” “shooting” points away from the zoological lion. In “I saw a Ḥātim today,” situational and historical context can indicate that a generous contemporary person is meant, not the famous Ḥātim al-Ṭāʾī. The indicator need not always be an explicit extra word; usage, situation and context can guide the interpretation.

The relation explains why the sense can move from lion to man; the indicator explains why the literal lion is not intended in this occurrence. These are distinct rhetorical functions.