Images of Spatial Metaphor in the Holy Qur’an: A Linguistic Study

Abstract

This research reports a morphological and phonological linguistic phenomenon, one that has garnered attention from linguists and is more commonly associated with individual words rather than sentences. This phenomenon is known as metathesis, which often involves the transposition of letters in words containing glottal stops or weak letters. It occurs when certain letters in a word are shifted from their original positions, either forward or backward, typically by moving a subsequent letter ahead of its predecessor. Examples include (طمأن) becoming (طأمن) and (راءَ) becoming (رَأى). As a result, this phenomenon directly impacts the morphological structure of words, leading to the creation of new morphological forms.
This phenomenon has been a subject of debate and disagreement among Arabic scholars. Some consider it a legitimate linguistic phenomenon, particularly within the realm of morphological studies, while others deny its existence altogether.
The researchers have outlined the differing views among linguists regarding the existence of this phenomenon, both in the Arabic language and in the Quranic text. They have presented the opinions of various linguists, along with the evidence each group relies on. Subsequently, the researchers examined this phenomenon in certain verses of the Quran, highlighting the differences in opinions regarding the original forms of the words in question.
In conducting this research, the researchers relied on analytical linguistic study. May Allah grant success and guidance.