Câhiliye’den İslâm’a Sesin Göstergesel Kullanımı Üzerine Edimbilimsel Bir Analiz
A Pragmatic Analysis of the Symbolic Use of Voice (Ṣawt) from the Jāhiliyyah to Islām

Summary/Abstract: Purpose: The pre-Islamic Arab society was developed under harsh natural and climatic conditions. The scarcity of resources resulted in the emergence of an oral culture wherein voice and speech assumed a pivotal function in social interactions. Within a context characterised by perpetual intertribal rivalry for prestige and power, vociferous expression was not merely a means of communication; rather, it served as a manifestation of social esteem and tribal prerogative. Those with strong voices were considered noble, while those who spoke softly were regarded as socially inferior. Thus, voice functioned not only as a communicative instrument but also as a sign carrying collective meanings. This study examines how voice, as a fundamental instrument of communication, functioned as an indicator of nobility and authority in this social structure, and how Islam sought to transform this perception. The objective of the present research is to provide a detailed description and analysis of the differences in the use of voice between the Jāhiliyya and Islamic periods, in addition to an examination of the Qur’ānic regulations within their respective socio-cultural frameworks. The present study is of significance in that it reveals, through an interdisciplinary perspective, the process by which voice ceased to be a sign of nobility and was redefined as a moral measure, and makes visible the cultural reconstruction carried out by early Islam. Method: The study adopts a pragmatic approach, which, by considering the context of utterance as well as the intentions and social positions of speakers, enables the examination of meaning-making processes. The tafsīr (exegesis) literature was also reviewed, and the poems cited as evidence along with Qur’ānic verses were analyzed through qualitative document analysis. Findings: The study finds that a mode of life based on scarce resources developed in preIslamic Arabian society. These harsh conditions led to the predominance of an oral culture and a tribal social structure. Within this context —where intertribal competition for supremacy and a stratified social order were decisive—voice and speech situated at the center of oral culture, become symbolic carriers of status and power relations. However Islām, through the principles articulated in the Qur’ān, challenged this pattern and devalued the loud and commanding the speech. In the Qurʾān, such sounds are likened to the braying of a donkey -an animal sound disapproved of in Arab culture- thereby stripping them of their function as a marker of superiority. Consequently, voice was repositioned not as an index of social status but within the framework of the principles of moderation. Conclusion: The study found that the character of communication was transformed, establishing a balance-based universe of meaning in social relations. The text’s originalitylies in its pragmatic approach, which enables an in-depth understanding of the sociopsychological dimensions of social phenomena and the cultural transformation brought by Islam. The present study provides an example for interpreting power, status, and representation in contemporary communication from a religious perspective and for value-based assessments. It is suggested that future pragmatic studies in Tafsīr could expand this inquiry and deepen comprehension.

• Details
• Contents