Ma’āni Adawāti al-Istifhām fī Surah al-Kahfi

Abstract

The primary utility of an interrogative sentence is to seek knowledge from those who possess information about something unknown, enabling the questioner to understand what they previously did not through verbal communication. However, in Arabic rhetoric (Balagha), a speaker does not always intend a literal question when utilizing interrogative tools (Adawat al-Istifham). Instead, these tools are often employed to convey specific rhetorical purposes. In Arabic syntax and semantics, interrogative tools possess various metaphorical meanings, including denial (Inkar), affirmation (Taqrir), exclamation (Ta'ajjub), delay (Istibta'), command (Amr), prohibition (Nahy), alerting to misguidance (Tanbih 'ala al-Dhalal), and sarcasm or control (Tahakkum). These non-literal interrogatives appear frequently throughout Surah Al-Kahf. Driven by this phenomenon, this research aims to investigate the rhetorical meanings of interrogative tools in Surah Al-Kahf. The specific objectives of this study are: 1) to identify the rhetorical meanings of the interrogative particles (Huruf al-Istifham) in Surah Al-Kahf, and 2) to determine the rhetorical meanings of the interrogative nouns (Asma' al-Istifham) in the same chapter. The findings of this research reveal that: 1) There are 11 instances of interrogative particles used rhetorically in Surah Al-Kahf; five of them denote denial (Inkar), two signify exclamation (Ta'ajjub), two express rebuke (Taubikh), two convey an offer or suggestion ('Ard), and another two serve as affirmation (Taqrir). 2) There are five instances of interrogative nouns; three of them denote denial (Inkar), one signifies exclamation (Ta'ajjub), and one serves as a literal question intended for description (al-Istifham al-Haqiqi).