Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

Calligraphy in the Quran (Case Study of the Calligraphy of the Vertical Letter A in the Middle of Homophones)

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Studies, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran.
10.22034/sshq.2026.551288.1586
Abstract
There are two terms used in the Quranic calligraphy: rasm al-mushaf and rasm al-imla. These two types of calligraphy, in the form of two terms of prohibition or ijtihad, have been the subject of debate and controversy throughout history. In the Mushaf script currently used in the Quran in the calligraphy of Uthman Taha, in many cases the same word is used in different calligraphy styles, or the calligraphy style of a word is different from its spelling style. To investigate this issue, the author attempts to explain the linguistic cause of this difference and then, using the theory of conceptual metaphor, examines and analyzes the semantic function of this difference, focusing on the writing and non-writing of the letter "A" in the middle of identical words. Based on the findings, this difference in the spelling of words is a linguistic phenomenon that conveys the phonetic characteristics of the word, and this feature is entirely in the service of meaning. The semantic function of writing and not writing the letter "A" is also related to the position of the letter "الف" in the middle of the word. The spacing between two letters by the letter "A" metaphorically and in the form of the metaphor "writing A" as the existence of spatial distance" has become the basis for metaphorical expansion and the meanings of the spatial domain have been introduced into the domain of the word. Concepts such as movement and lack of movement, etc., which are related to
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 30 May 2026

  • Receive Date 06 October 2025
  • Revise Date 08 May 2026
  • Accept Date 09 April 2026
  • Publish Date 30 May 2026