Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

Stratificational Semiotics in An-Nāziʻāt Sura: A Barthesian Reading

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Niloufar Zarivand 1
Ali Pirani Shaal 2
Zohreh Naemi 3
Ali asvadi 3
Soodabeh Mozaffari 4
1 Doctoral student of Arabic language and literature, Faculty of Humanities Literature, Kharazmi University, Tehran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Kharazmi University, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Karaj,Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Kharazmi University, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Karaj. Iran
4 Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Kharazmi University, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Karaj. Iran
1022034/sshq.2023.362102.1230
Abstract
Stratificational semiotics delves into the hidden layers of a literary text in terms of analyzing intertextual relationships and syntagmatic relationships between semantic layers and codes. Roland Barthes identifies five main semiotic codes: Hermeneutic, Proairetic, Semantic, Symbolic, and Cultural which provide a comprehensive analysis of a literary text and its meaning. This research, adopting a descriptive-analytical methodology, examines the stratificational semiotics of An-Nāziʻāt Sura in order to decode its implicit meanings in accordance with the requirements of the 21th century context (apocalypse) as well as the ever-increasing technological advances. The study finds that the hermeneutic code addresses the meaning of the Sural with regard to the Doomsday and the resurrection of the dead; the Proairetic code addresses God’s provisions to humankind, the actions of sinners, and the conflict between Moses and Pharaoh; the semantic code addresses technological advances as well as the power of humankind in the apocalypse; the symbolic code addresses a bipolar world; and the cultural code advises humankind to avoid arrogance based on the story of Moses and Pharaoh. Such layers of meaning based on semiotic codes portray a historical era when humankind has achieved such a high level of power and creation that it assumes itself to be the Omnipotent. In this context, An-Nāziʻāt Sura invites mankind to ponder over the essence of its existence and avoid arrogance in order to appreciate the purpose of creation and avoid an unfortunate destiny.
Keywords
Stratificational semiotics
codes
Roland Barthes
An-Nāziʻāt Sura
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Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran
Volume 6, Issue 2 - Serial Number 11
Sixth year, second issue, eleventh consecutively, autumn and winter, 2022
November 2022
Pages 253-275

  • Receive Date 05 November 2022
  • Revise Date 15 December 2022
  • Accept Date 09 January 2023
  • Publish Date 22 December 2022