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The Personification of the Abstract Concept of Dunyā in Nahj al‑Balāghah based on Conceptual Metaphor Theory
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Afarin Zare   |
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Abstract: (4 Views) |
| Conceptual metaphor, as a cognitive phenomenon studied within cognitive semantics, has opened new horizons for the study of metaphor and has significantly contributed to understanding abstract domains. Islamic sacred texts, aiming to transform human thought, frequently explain various abstract concepts—among them the concept of dunyā (the worldly life). In doing so, they establish connections between experiential and abstract domains, enabling the audience to comprehend abstract and spiritual concepts through tangible and sensory experiences within a metaphorical framework. Personification, as a type of ontological metaphor, plays an important role in understanding abstract concepts. Accordingly, the present study employs a descriptive method and qualitative content analysis to extract and analyze this cognitive metaphor in the conceptualization of dunyā within Nahj al‑Balāghah. The aim is to facilitate a deeper understanding of this abstract concept. The findings show that the personification of dunyā allows individuals to understand worldly phenomena in human terms—based on motivations, goals, actions, and characteristics familiar to human experience. Viewing the abstract concept of dunyā through human terminology provides a form of explanatory power that is readily comprehensible. Such metaphors create a framework through which various aspects of worldly life can be evaluated and understood; notably, the present study indicates that many of these aspects are depicted negatively. The overarching metaphor of “dunyā as a human being” thus offers deeper insight into the motivations and underlying reasons behind human and social behaviors in relation to worldly life and provides a foundation for critiquing and reforming these attitudes and actions. |
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| Keywords: Conceptual Metaphor, Personification, Ontological Metaphor, The World Nahj al-Balāghah. |
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Full-Text [PDF 443 kb]
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/07/1 | Accepted: 2026/07/1 | Published: 2026/07/1
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