The Implications of the Levels of Linguistic Analysis in the Hadith of the Victorious Sect

Abstract

This study deals with the hadith of the Victorious Sect, which is considered an important principle of loyalty and disavowal in Islam and a testimony of the Prophet Mohammed's (SWS) prophecy. This is a Mutawatir (consecutive) hadith narrated by nearly twenty companions. Using an analytical descriptive method, the present study examines the hadith's words and phrases at different linguistic levels: phonetic, morpho-syntactic, and semantic. Results at the phonetic level show that there is a prevalence of voiced, unaspirated, and explosive sounds that have strong impact on the listener. At the morphosyntactic
level, results show a prominent presence of the nominal structures that indicate stability and permanence, with some use of verb phrases that indicate renewal, continuity and interactiveness. It seems that the morphosyntactic structures play a great role in determining the semantic interpretations of this hadith with its multiple narrations. This is evident not only through the
use of structures indicating eternal existence and presence across times to confirm meaning and to engrave it in the minds of listeners, but also through the connotations of generalization, specification, focus, emphasis, contrast, and others. All are intertwined in a linguistic harmony in which all linguistic levels - sound, form and structure - perform their function in the fullest and most meaningful way.