The Phonetic Miraculousness in the Holy Qur’an: Mimetic and Non-Mimetic Sounds – A Semantic Study

Abstract

This study analyzes a specific aspect of the rhetorical miracle in the Qur'an, namely phonetic inimitability. It distinguishes between two types of sounds: imitative sounds, which echo real-world phenomena, emotions, or physical and abstract movements; and non-imitative sounds, which rely on rhythm, intonation, and phonetic structure without direct mimicry. The research aims to explore how the Qur'an employs phonetic elements—such as repetition, assimilation, emphasis, rhythm, and paronomasia—to convey meanings and enhance psychological and aesthetic impact on the listener. This reveals the precision of Qur'anic expression and its powerful influence. The study adopts a linguistic and phonetic analytical approach to Qur'anic texts, demonstrating that sound in the Qur'an is not merely a linguistic tool, but carries deep rhetorical and psychological significance. This affirms that the Qur'anic text possesses an intentional phonetic structure that serves and reinforces meaning within a framework of inimitable eloquence unparalleled in Arabic rhetoric.