The Linguistic and Stylistic Significance of the Terms “Adornment,” “Beauty,” and “Ornamentation” in Holy Qur’an

Abstract

The Holy Qur’an has a distinguished position in articulating meanings by using highly selected words, each bearing particular connotations that suit the context. Zīnah (adornment), Jamāl (beauty), and Zukhruf (ornament) are some of the terms that attract the scholars' attention while studying the holy Qur’anic verses. Such terms may appear synonymous; however, the linguistic and stylistic scrutiny reveals subtle differences among them. This research is an attempt to identify the semantic and stylistic distinctions among these three terms and to reveal the linguistic secrets that lie behind using them in detail. A pragmatic study was conducted to see the positive and negative uses of such terms.

Moreover, the study covers the use of other lexical, grammatical, phonetic, and morphological aspects. The researcher adopts an analytical approach to examine verses that include the aforementioned terms by analyzing their linguistic, morphological, and phonetic aspects to clarify their contextual and rhetorical significations.

The significance of the study appears in its supports to stylistic and semantic studies of the Holy Qur’an; 'beauty'. For instance, it might have an individual connotation, that is changeable, and a consensual connotation, that reflects a universal beauty created by Allah. It also might have a sense of deception or affectation. This study shows the semantic and stylistic differences of the terms according to their Qur’anic contexts. It also explains the reasons for selecting such terms.