Document Type : Review
Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
2 PhD Student in Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
Abstract
One of the modern approaches to understanding the Quranic text is the use of semiotic tools to uncover the codes that activate the mechanisms of meaning production within the text. Surah al-Fajr is among the richest surahs of the Quran in terms of semiotic potential. This research, based on Roland Barthes' theory of the five codes, employs an analytical method to examine the hermeneutic, proairetic, symbolic, cultural, and semantic codes in this surah. The aim is to discover the hidden semantic structures at different levels of signification and to analyze the semiotic relations within the linguistic, historical, and intertextual layers of the verses. According to the findings, the hermeneutic code, through the enigmas posed by the repeated oaths at the beginning of the surah, presents the occurrence of resurrection as undeniable. The proairetic code indicates that the fate of the rebellious—such as Pharaoh, ʿĀd, and Thamūd—will be confronted by divine wrath. Additionally, actions presented in the form of divine blessings, which serve as rewards for the righteous, are also expressed. The semantic code creates a broad semantic field for certain words, exposing the audience to a range of semantic interpretations. Words such as "al-fajr" (the dawn), apparently a temporal term, become one of the most semantically dense words in the surah. The cultural code, by recalling the histories of rebellious nations, serves as an encouragement to avoid arrogance and reprehensible actions that lead to a bad end. Finally, the symbolic code, by creating semantic oppositions, seeks to draw a clear picture of the layers of meaning.
Keywords
Main Subjects
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