Analyzing the Linguistic Arguments of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) in the Qurʾān based on Stephen E. Toulmin's Reasoning Theory

Argument is one of the uses of language that is used to influence others and to persuade the audience. The importance of argument in contemporary research goes back to its place in new rhetoric in such a way that this scientific field is divided into the two main dimensions of expression and argument. By criticizing Aristotelian logic, Stephen E. Toulmin took it out of its dry and predetermined format and moved it to linguistic reasoning and gave it a practical aspect. Toulmin's reasoning method has six parts where every cogent and convincing argument includes at least the first three parts. Focusing on opinions and changing the status quo as well as rebutting the discourses of polytheism and disbelief, the Qurʾān contains argumentative discourses. Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) arguments when confronting the infidels and polytheists comprises the six parts of Touliman's model. In this descriptive-analytical research article, we intend to analyze the ayahs that are related to Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) linguistic arguments for different audiences according to Touliman's theory. The findings show that the arguments of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) in the face of infidels and polytheists incorporates the six parts of Touliman's model and his arguments enjoy the power of persuading the audience.