Another Reading of the Shiqshiqiyya Sermon: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Analysis in Light of Narrative and Literary Commentaries
Keywords:
Amir al-Mu'minin (AS), ahj al-Balagha, Sermon al-Shiqshiqiyyah, Hallidayan Systemic Functional Approach, Textual MetafunctionAbstract
The present study aims to examine the effectiveness of text linguistics in uncovering the multiple semantic layers of religious texts. In this context, the Sermon of al-Shiqshiqiyya is analyzed based on the textual metafunction within Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics framework. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method, analyzing the sermon in terms of thematic structure as well as various cohesive devices—grammatical, lexical, and conjunctive—that contribute to its overall coherence. The linguistic findings are systematically compared and complemented with the interpretations of prominent Hadith commentators, such as Mulla Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi in Bihar al-Anwar and Hashemi Khuei in Minhaj al-Bara‘a, along with related rhetorical and conceptual studies. In relevant parts of the analysis, references are also made to managerial insights derived from the textual structure. The findings reveal a high degree of structural and semantic cohesion in the sermon, where the full range of the textual metafunction is skillfully employed to produce a coherent, dynamic discourse that accurately conveys Amīr al-Muʾminīn (peace be upon him) perspective and emphasizes key concepts. In most cases, the linguistic patterns align closely with classical commentarial interpretations. The study demonstrates that integrating systemic-functional linguistic analysis with reliable narrative and literary commentaries offers a powerful tool for revealing the rich semantic and rhetorical layers of religious texts. This interdisciplinary approach not only deepens literary and fiqh al-ḥadīth understanding but also enables the extraction of secondary meanings and cross-disciplinary insights—such as those relevant to the field of Islamic management.
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