A Conceptual Study of Metaphorical Illustration Applied for Hellfire in Qur’anic Text

Abstract

This study aims to explore the metaphors of fire and hell from Holy Qur'ān utilizing conceptual analysis and by keeping in view the discussion of cognitive linguistic and cognitive perspectives of metaphor. This research has attempted to apply the semasiological approach to Qur'ānic corpus wherewith the figurative significance of fire and hell is linked with Fire/Hell as a metaphor in the Holy Scripture. The Cognitive Theory of Metaphor (CMT)interpreted by linguists Lakoff & Johnson (1980) and developed later by Lakoff and Turner (1989), and others, e.g. Wreth (1994, 1999) has been applied as the theoretical framework and the translations of specific extracted verses of Holy Qur'ān are interpreted logically and compared with concerning religious aspects. Originally the principles of Cognitive Metaphor Theory have been employed for the study of Conceptual Metaphorical Analysis (CMA) revealing how metaphors of fire and hell have been used creatively affecting the understanding of much broader aspects of life in light of the teachings of Qur'ān. The tenor and vehicle illustration is taken from I.A Richards’ concept of ground, tenor, and vehicle, and the source and target domain are also debated to bring forth a holistically semasiological understanding after the analysis of the metaphors.

Keywords

• Fire
• Hell
• Qur'ānic Metaphor
• Conceptual Metaphor
• Tenor
• Vehicle