Metaphor
In its linguistic context, “metaphor” is derived from the verb “to resemble,” meaning the comparison of one thing to another. In a more formal sense, it refers to the shared attributes of two entities that enhance their connection, with the first entity generally being superior in that particular quality. The use of comparison tools serves an aesthetic or elucidative purpose, often helping to clarify or embellish ideas for the audience. Importantly, the two entities compared do not necessarily belong to the same category; for example, a man can be likened to a lion, where one is a human and the other an animal. Similarly, a girl may be compared to the moon, contrasting a living being with an inanimate object.
Tools of Comparison
Comparison tools serve as connectors between the subject being compared and the object of comparison. Their presence is essential, although it may sometimes be omitted for a more impactful expression. These tools can be classified into three categories:
- Nouns: Such as (similar to, like, resembling, counterpart). For example, “The woman is like a rose.”
- Prepositions: Such as the letter “k” (ك) or “as if” (كأن). For instance, “Muhammad is like rain,” indicating his generosity, while in a construction such as “As if Zaid were a lion,” the comparison tool is positioned at the beginning of the sentence.
- Verbs: Such as (resembles, parallels, seems, and considers). For example, “Her voice resembles melody,” implying her singing is beautiful.
The Comparison Tool “K” (ك)
The comparison tool “k” is one of the most frequently used in similes, typically followed by the object of comparison, as in the Quranic verse: “On the Day when people will be like dispersed moths” (يَوْمَ يَكُونُ النَّاسُ كَالْفَرَاشِ الْمَبْثُوثِ). However, there are instances where it may not be succeeded by the object, as in: “And cite for them the example of the life of this world, like water that We send down from the sky” (وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ). Here, what is being likened is not just water but the “fall of water,” making this construction a complex metaphor.
| Hatem is like a lion in his bravery. |
| When the snow falls, the ground becomes like a bride. |
| “I am like water when I am at peace.” |
| Ahmad is fast like a cheetah. |
The Comparison Tool “As If” (كأن)
Another commonly used tool is “as if,” which typically precedes the object of comparison, as seen in the verse: “As if they were wild donkeys fleeing from a lion” (كَأَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌ مُسْتَنْفِرَةٌ فَرَّتْ مِنْ قَسْوَرَةٍ). The use of “as if” in comparisons is characterized by several features:
- It conveys exaggeration and emphasis.
- The primary focus in sentences using this comparison tool is usually on the subject.
- It allows for the comparison to be made with something unattainable or even impossible, such as in the verse: “They argue with you concerning the truth after it has become clear, as if they were driven to death, and they look on” (يُجَادِلُونَكَ فِي الْحَقِّ بَعْدَمَا تَبَيَّنَ كَأَنَّمَا يُسَاقُونَ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ).
| They were astonished as if there were birds on their heads. |
| As if you were a star in your excellence. |
| “As if the dust stirred above our heads.” |
| “Like the pleasure of his voice and the beating of his heart.” |
Types of Comparison
There are many types of comparisons in the Arabic language, each with its specific usages, demonstrating the richness and comprehensiveness of the language. The main types of comparison include:
- Explicit Comparison: Where the comparison tool is mentioned.
- Affirmed Comparison: Where the tool is omitted.
- General Comparison: Where the point of similarity is omitted between the subject and the object.
- Detailed Comparison: Where the point of similarity is explicitly stated.
- Vivid Comparison: Where both the tool and point of similarity are omitted.
- Singular Comparison: Comparing one entity with another singular entity.
To learn more about the various types of comparison in detail, please refer to the article: Types of Comparison.
Elements of Comparison
There are four essential components in any sentence containing a comparison:
- Subject: The entity the speaker is comparing to something else.
- Object: The entity to which the subject is being compared.
- Comparison Tool: The word or term used to connect the subject and the object, which may be omitted depending on the type of comparison used.
- Point of Similarity: The shared attribute that ties together the subject and object, which may be expressed or omitted depending on the type of comparison.
Examples of Comparison in the Holy Quran
Metaphor is one of the most employed stylistic devices in the Quran, showcasing a profound ability to convey meaning and evoke vivid imagery, allowing readers to envision these details and events fully. Some examples of metaphor in the Holy Quran include:
- “Say, ‘If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord would be exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement.'” (قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا).
- “And with them will be maidens, restraining their glances, as if they were eggs well protected.” (وَعِندَهُمْ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ عِينٌ كَأَنَّهُنَّ بَيْضٌ مَّكْنُونٌ).
- “The example of those who were charged with the Torah, then did not carry it, is like that of a donkey carrying books; wretched is the example of the people who denied the verses of Allah.” (مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا).
- “And those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert that a thirsty person thinks is water until he comes to it and finds it is nothing; and he finds Allah there, and He will pay him his due.” (وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ مَاءً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئًا).
Rhetoric of the Art of Metaphor
The eloquence of the art of metaphor is manifested in the innovative words that associate two entirely different things through a relationship of resemblance, often not conceived by anyone but the poetically gifted or those with a refined appreciation for literature. This ability allows for connections between profound meanings, constructing extraordinary visions and ideas that amaze the audience and open new avenues of thought. The rhetorical breadth of metaphor varies according to its type and the elements present in the sentence, making a complete metaphor less eloquent, while the clarity of its intended purpose can enhance its expressive quality, thus showcasing variation in elegance and aesthetic appeal across different literary forms.
Exercises on Comparison Tools
| She was (……………….) in her poetry. |
| My father is (……………….) in his morals. |
| He is (……………….) in his generosity. |
| Ahmad was a distinguished student (……………….). |
| “As if you were a sun and the stars were planets.” | (……………….) |
| People are like the teeth of a comb. | (……………….) |
| The heart of the unjust person is like a rock. | (……………….) |
| His words resemble the sea. | (……………….) |