A Pragmatic Study of Argument in atimatulzahra's (P.B.U.H.) Speech

Abstract

Prophet Muhammad and his Progeny (Peace Be Upon Them, henceforth P.B.U.T.) have set the seeds of many human and natural sciences, including linguistic-related reflections. As such, the current study concords with the assumption that these great Islamic figures have had their essential impact on the subsequent fields of study concentrating on language, rhetoric and communication. Argument is hypothesized by this study to be one of the most prominent aspects of that influential role of Prophet Muhammad and his Progeny. Argument has been widely employed in the religious speeches delivered to Muslims and to other religions followers by Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) and his progeny (P.B.U.H.) in defense of Islam and Islamic fundamentals and in pursuit of establishing the basic rights and humanistic principles sought by Islam. Lady Fatimatulzahra (P.B.U.H.), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.), wife of Imam Ali and the mother of Imam Hasan and Imam Hussein (P.B.U.H.) is a case in point of this belief. Moreover, the great and knowing personality of Lady Fatimatulzahra represents a rich source for linguistic studies. Lady Fatimatulzahra's (P.B.U.H.) speech is characterized by various pragma-rhetorical aspects which need a careful study and investigation. Thus, this study has set itself the aims of identifying some of the most significant pragma-rhetorical strategies of argument employed by her. Further, how these strategies have been used to get her argumentative aims fulfilled. The results and discussions of this study have arrived at the conclusions that the most frequent pragma-rhetorical strategies utilized by her are: Rhetorical Questions, Metaphors and Warrants. In addition, she has made use of these strategies to persuade her audience successfully