A demonstrative normally identifies something indicated by the speaker. In ʿilm al-maʿānī, however, we must ask why «هذا» or «ذلك» is selected instead of an ordinary pronoun. Pointing language can foreground an unusually important referent.
«هذا الذي ترك الأوهام حائرة»
This is the one who leaves imagination bewildered.
The poetic line uses «هذا» to single out the subject of praise and heighten the exceptional claim about him. The rhetorical effect is not limited to physically pointing a finger; the referent can be presented vividly to the listener’s mind.
A demonstrative thus need not be reduced to literal physical proximity or distance. Its effect depends on context, evaluative tone, and the intended distinction.