Marginal typologies in the Qur'an: A semantic and rhetorical analysis

Authors : Cemal Sandıkçı

Pages : 2490-2519

Doi:10.48146/odusobiad.1741735

View : 72 | Download : 127

Publication Date : 2025-12-28

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :The Qur\\\'an is not merely a text of theological injunctions but a comprehensive divine discourse that guides human behavior, evaluates individual-societal relations, and encompasses psychological dimensions. Within its multifaceted structure, the Qur\\\'an presents not only normative believer archetypes but also individuals and communities that exhibit marginal characteristics in terms of faith, morality, and social conduct. Figures such as Pharaoh, Korah (Qārūn), Balaam (Balʿam), the people of Lot, al-Sāmirī, and the Sabbath violators are presented as negative examples, while the Companions of the Cave and Prophet Abraham represent positive marginal figures. These portrayals are not merely historical narratives but are imbued with semantic and rhetorical depth. When analyzed through the lens of classical rhetorical sciences—maʿānī (semantics), bayān (clarity/imagery), and badīʿ (embellishment)—the educational, cautionary, and guiding functions of these narratives become more evident. The Qur’an’s use of specific concepts, idioms, similes, metaphors, and stylistic features in depicting these typologies contributes to their impact not only in terms of content but also in aesthetic and functional expression. This article classifies the marginal typologies in the Qur’an thematically and analyzes them in light of relevant verses, examining their semantic fields and rhetorical devices. The study aims to highlight the representational power of these figures and to offer a meaningful framework for understanding how the Qur’an constructs its educative and transformative discourse.
Keywords : Kur’an, Marjinal Tipolojiler, Belâgat, Semantik Analiz. Figür.

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