A Reading of the Meaning of Oath Words in Alawid Discourse

Using oath words is one of the oldest methods of emphatic speech, with a long precedence in the Arabic culture and language. This kind of emphasis is done because of numerous reasons, among which are the following: weak possibility of realization of the subject, weirdness of the subject, and the addressee’s denial of it. Oath words in Arabic enjoy a unique variety and multiplicity. One of the most prominent examples of multiplicity of the oath style and variety of its use is found in the unparalleled book of Nahj al-Balagha. This study investigates the relationship between the oath words, and what are sworn on in Nahj al-Balagha  to show the difference in usage and the subject of usage in each word to uncover its delicacies and beauties in denotation and connotation. Investigating the significance of various oaths in Nahj al-Balagha shows that all oath words are common in denoting emphasis, but each has a different semantic connotation with a strong relationship to what is sworn on, in a way that substitution of each similar word leads to a reduction of semantic eloquence of the word.