Conceptual analysis of the word ‘light’ in the Holy Quran; based on two cognitive models: Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Double-ground Metaphoric Chain

One of the common features of religious texts is their high frequency of abstract and metaphysical concepts. Hence, they are full of metaphors that link between abstract and unknown conceptual domains and concrete and familiar ones. The findings of cognitive linguists show that establishing this link facilitates understanding of abstract and unknown concepts. In this study, we will explore the metaphorical use of the word light in the Qur'an by adopting a cognitive semantics approach, using Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and Double-ground Metaphoric Chain (DGMC). In this descriptive-analytical research, ten Quranic interpretations written in five interpretive methods were used to determine the readings and referents of light in the Quran. Results show that, in 40 cases (out of 43 cases), light is used metaphorically to conceptualize several concepts. According to several referents mentioned for light in ten Quranic representations, 63 conceptual metaphors were found, in which, light is used as source domain. Furthermore, in seven cases, light is used as both source and target domain; i.e., as a central concept in a double-ground metaphorical chain.