Signs of Miraculousness in the Abodes of Conciseness by Badiuzzaman Said Nursi: An Analytical Rhetorical Study

Abstract

   This research presents an analytical study of Badiuzzaman Said Nursi's exegesis of the Holy Quran, as articulated in his work Isharat al-I'jaz fi Mazann al-Ijaz (Signs of Miraculousness in the Abodes of Conciseness). The study aims to elucidate Nursi's innovative approach to employing rhetorical devices—specifically simile, metaphor, metonymy, and synecdoche—to highlight the aesthetic dimensions of the Quranic text and connect them with doctrinal and educational meanings. This research demonstrates that Nursi did not view rhetoric merely as a stylistic embellishment; rather, he regarded it as a crucial tool for rendering abstract concepts accessible, evoking emotional resonance, and simultaneously achieving intellectual persuasion and emotional suggestion.

   The study adopts a textual analytical methodology, drawing upon interpretive models from Isharat al-I'jaz. It meticulously analyzes Nursi's applications of rhetorical figures across four primary sections: simile and representation, metaphor, metonymy, and synecdoche. The analysis reveals that Nursi presented a comprehensive perspective that seamlessly integrates rhetorical and theological dimensions, transforming rhetorical devices into instruments for solidifying faith and cultivating spiritual awareness.