Hyperboles in the Qurʾān: What Affects the Meaning of these Morpho-Lexical Forms?

Abstract

Hyperboles are exaggerated statements that are not meant to be taken literally, and function as rhetorical devices that serve to reinforce emotional expression, create vivid imagery, and heighten emphasis. Hyperbole in Arabic is characterized by standardized forms such as faʿʿāl and faʿūl. Although these forms have been studied intensively by rhetoricians, grammarians and modern scholars, the precise meaning of hyperbolic forms is often ambiguous, especially in translations of Qurʾānic verses, where varying interpretations can lead to different understandings.

This article aims to clarify the semantic meaning of hyperbolic forms that occur in the Qurʾān. To capture these semantic nuances we analyzed and compared active participle forms and their equivalent hyperbolic forms. The findings suggest that Qurʾānic hyperbolic forms usually convey concepts related to individualism. Hyperboles in the Qurʾān usually occur in singular forms and primarily emphasize individual responsibility and personal traits. They portray each person (or divine entity) as an exemplar of a characteristic, which aligns with the concept of individualism. The equivalent active participle forms emphasize collective behavior and shared values or norms. The second distinction between hyperbolic forms and active participles is that hyperbolic forms often indicate a comprehensive role, profession, or identity encompassing all its associated traits rather than simply frequency or intensity of action. By contrast, active participles focus on specificactions or ongoing processes.