LINGVISTIC ASPECTS OF DU’A IN THE QUR’AN

Abstract

UDK 28-23:81’374.42
          28-24-254

Du’a (supplication) plays a significant role in the life of a Mus-lim. Through Du’a man addresses the Almighty Allah with the purpose of gaining His mercy or forgiveness. Du’a is the way of asking for some worldly or material goods but also a way of witnessing Allah’s oneness. Thus we show our submissiveness in front of the Creator reflecting love for Him and emphasizing the fact that we can rely only upon His help. That is why du’a, especially of the Qur’anic expression, was, in different aspects including its linguistic dimension, often a subject of research of Islamic scholars. Considering the fact that this aspect of du’a in the Qur’an was very rarely researched in our language, with this article we aimed to analyze characteristics of the syntax of the Qur’anic expression, wherein in a form of supplication we ad-dress the Creator with purpose of gaining some benefit or His protection from evil in this world or in hereafter. Sentences of the Qur’an expressing a du’a are known as ğumal du‘ā’iyya (sup-plication sentences), they take form of imperative, prohibitive or interrogative7 sentences representing a kind of demanding performative sentences (ğumal inšā’iyya ṭalabiyya), and also in a form of declarative sentences (ğumal ẖabariyya) which, in that case, express the meaning of performative expression. In all these kinds of sentences the speaker is, in a metaphorical sense of imperative (amr) or prohibition (nahy), in a humble and submissive manner addressing the Creator. All these sentences, besides expressing profound meaning, represent a specific kind of stylistic expression with a variety of stylistic characteristics.