Rhetorical Functions of Topos in Qur’anic Discourse

Abstract

To argue effectively and influence the opponent in any argumentative discourse, the speaker needs to introduce commonplace statements that made the opponent accept them with no disinclination and hesitation. Such statements are recognized as Topos or topics, as the modern translator use. Topos mostly accompanies repetition and some other figures of speech that are prominent tools in any challenging speech; the religious one. The present paper is an attempt to explore the impact topos has on the discourse of the Glorious Quran It aims to detect some sorts of topos displayed together with figures of speech, show how their survival has a vital role in creating a persuasive and successful argument, and finally trace the influence they have on the interpretation of such discourse. Based on Aristotles’ categories of topos, Rygiel (1994) model of repetition, and Tafsir Al-Mizan for Al-Tabtabai, the concept of topos is illuminated with reference to some verses from the Glorious Quran. The researcher concludes that Aristotle’s categories of topos are applicable to the Glorious Quran and mostly accompany repetition, in addition to some other figures of speech such as metaphor, personification, and rhetorical question. Such a blend of the two topos and figures of speech help the speaker to defend, clarify, justify, and support his/ her argument to the extent that it leads the opponents to be extremely confident and persuaded with the argument even if they entirely believe in an opposing view.