Expressing Entrance through Using the Verb Dakhala in the Quranic Text: Its Modes and Rhetorical Meanings 10.35781/1637-000-143-005

Abstract

Abstract Since their emergence within Quranic studies، rhetorical studies have continually unveiled profound rhetorical secrets in the Quranic text، confirming its unparalleled، miraculous uniqueness in accurate structure and semantic coherence. This study however aimed to identify the modes of expressing "entrance" through using the verb dhakhala (entered) in the Quranic text، and address the rhetorical implications encoded in each style to explore the accuracy of the Quranic composition. To achieve the objectives of the study، a descriptive methodology was employed supported by analytical، inductive، and statistical tools. The study was ranged into an introduction and two sections. The introduction presented the research background، problem statement، objectives، significance، methodology، and relevant previous studies. However، Section I addressed the problematicity of whether the verb dakhala was semantically intransitive or transitive. While، Section II addressed the various modes of expressing entrance" through using the verb dhakhala (entered) in the Quranic text together with the rhetorical meanings inherent in each mode. Accordingly، the study revealed a number of findings، most significantly: • The inductive survey of Quranic usage of dakhala shows that the verb is used transitively—without a preposition—when referring to specific، bounded places، with the meaning of “entry” intended literally rather than figuratively. This consistent usage highlights the rhetorical precision of the Quranic text، showing that construing the verb as directly transitive with such places is normative. Consequently، the view held by some grammarians that dakhala may be transitive either directly or with a preposition depending on meaning is stronger than the view that its direct transitivity with specific places is anomalous. • The construction dakhala ʿalā (entered upon) appears ten times in the Quran، all denoting a literal، not figurative، entrance. The contexts imply a variety of purposes—such as meeting، requesting something، confrontation، or military incursion—discerned through contextual indicators. The study concludes that this construction implies that the person entered upon (individual or group) must be located in a specific، bounded place; thus، if the person were in an unconfined space—such as a valley—the expression “someone entered upon him” would be inappropriate. While the construction may be used both literally and figuratively in Arabic، all Quranic occurrences are literal. • Expressions denoting entrance into the Paradise occur in the Quran predominantly in the present (future-oriented)، imperative، or past-tense forms used to express future events، with two exceptions where the simple past is used in the verse "And he entered his garden while he was unjust to himself" and "And why did you، when you entered your garden".. In these two cases، the “Paradise” in question is worldly، not eschatological. Moreover، only in these two verses does the word jannah occur annexed to second- or third-person pronouns. This shift in expression signals a corresponding shift in meaning، reflecting a subtle rhetorical distinction indicative of the Quran's inimitable eloquence. • The expression dakhaltum bihinna (with whom you have lain) occurs in the Quran figuratively as a euphemism for marital intercourse. In such contexts، the place entered is not mentioned; if a place were specified—e.g.، “someone entered with his wife into home” or “entered upon the caliph”—the meaning would shift from sexual intercourse to seclusion، accompanying، or another contextually appropriate sense. • The Quranic text uses dakhala with the preposition fī (in/into) in the following cases: when the entrance is figurative، literal but partial such that the space entered does not fully encompass the entrant، indicative of immersion of one entity within another or within a group or category، or inclusive to penetration or insertion. • The Quran does not indicate expression through using dakhala ilā (entered to/into) to express any form of entrance، despite its attested use in Arabic. Keywords: Expressions of Entrance، the verb Dakhala، Quranic Rhetoric.