Literary Arts (Sep 2023)
Literary Semiotics of the Personality of the Prophet (PBUH) in the Written Manuscript ‘The Birth of the Prophet’ Translated by Mohammad Bagher Kheshti based on Philip Hamon's Theory in Connection with Quranic Virtues
Abstract
The theory of the French semiotician Philippe Hamon is the most comprehensive theory about the element of personality because it includes the previous theorists. He considers personality as a sign that consists of signifiers and signified and different levels. What is important is that by examining the semiotics of the personality, one can find out the hidden layers of the personality by relying on the characteristics and traits. The manuscript of Mawlud al-Nabi (the Birth of the Prophet) written by an unknown author and translated by Muhammad Baqir Kheshti in 1275 AH is one of the books that presents the biography of the Prophet (PBUH) and describes some of his personality traits such as generosity, kindness, intercession, knowledge, justice, etc. This document is organized into an introduction and six chapters. It describes the era of the Prophet (PBUH) before his birth and examines his life from his birth until the time of his marriage with Hazrat Khadijah (AS). The findings of the research show that in the axis of the signifier, the names and titles used for the Prophet (PBUH) in this book are all consistent with the attributes and actions of his character, and in a way, his names and titles indicate all his intrinsic and inner characteristics. In the signified axis, the attributes and characteristics of the Prophet such as intercession, knowledge, justice, forgiveness and generosity, etc. are discussed. In terms of personality levels, the appearance, psychological, and social levels of the Prophet's (PBUH) personality are addressed. Keywords: Personology, Mawlid al-Nabi, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), Philip Hamon. IntroductionThe manuscript of Mawlud al-Nabi (the Birth of the Prophet) is one of the books that presents the biography of the Prophet (PBUH) and describes some of his personality. Birth certificates or Mowludnemeh are part of literature and written history that play an important role in the intellectual education and personal and social development of people. What is important is the revival and correction of these manuscripts that have remained from the past and have been passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately, these manuscripts are in danger of destruction. For this reason, it is required to correct and preserve these valuable works. This research deals with describing the character of the Prophet (PBUH) in the book Mawlud al-Nabi based on Philip Hamon's theory with a descriptive-analytical approach. The two research questions of the study are:What are the levels and signs of the Prophet's (PBUH) character and what criteria was it based on?What are the meanings of the names of the Prophet (PBUH) in this book? Materials and MethodsThis research, using the descriptive-analytical method, deals with describing the personality of the Prophet (PBUH) in the manuscript Mawlud al-Nabi based on the theory of Philip Hamon. First, the general concept of personality from Philip Hamon's point of view is presented. Then, the character of the Prophet (PBUH) from the perspective of the signifier, signified, and personality levels is examined. Research FindingsThe most important achievement of the semiotics of the personality of the Prophet (PBUH) in Mawlud al-Nabi is the recognition and understanding of the hidden layers of his personality. Knowing his holy personality becomes a significant aspect in increasing the knowledge and awareness of the people. It can be said that the internal and external characteristics of the Prophet (PBUH), as something precious among people, illuminate the right path and reveal good and pleasant qualities. By knowing the characteristics of the Prophet (PBUH), it is possible to separate the path of truth from falsehood. The desirable features and attributes of the Prophet (PBUH) from the signifier nomenclature aspect are compatible and proportional with both the names and titles of the Prophet (PBUH). In other words, the names used for the Prophet (PBUH) are all consistent with his attributes and actions. Discussion of Results and ConclusionExamining the personality of the Prophet (PBUH), according to Hamon's theory, indicates that the names and titles used for him are Ahmad, Muhammad, Abul Qasim, Mustafa, Mukhtar, Rasulullah, Nabiullah, and Khatam Al-Anbiya. All of the names are consistent with the attributes and actions of the Prophet (PBUH), and his names and titles indicate all the characteristics that are inherent in the Prophet's birth. The frequency of these names and titles is as follows: Muhammad (252 times), Rasulullah (96 times), Mustafa (46 times), Khatam al-Anbiya (33 times), Ahmad (14 times), Nabiullah (10 times), Mukhtar (9 times), and Abu al-Qasim (2 times).In the signified dimension of the Prophet's (PBUH), characteristics such as knowledge, intercession on the day of punishment, guide of people, generosity and forgiveness, justice, and the reason for the creation of the heavens are discussed. In terms of levels of his personality, the external, psychological and social aspects of his character were examined. All the physical attributes of the Holy Prophet such as his height, color, and the type of clothing he wears are mentioned. In order to explain its social dimension, the author has first discussed the social position of his ancestors and then the social dimensions of the Prophet himself, and attributes such as his high position as Ashraf Ahlal-Ilmi among Arabs and non-Arabs, Bashir and Nazir, the mentor and guide of the people are mentioned.
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