Elocution of Saqifa Day A pragmatic study of the intent of utterance and performative verbs

Abstract

This research aims to highlight the discussion and the concise deliberations, which took place between the companions of the Prophet (PBUH), on Saqifa day, from a pragmatic perspective; which discussion and deliberations fall within the general discourse.  However, the importance of this research emanates from three aspects, namely the particularity of the discourse situation or site, which was the Saqifa day; the day on which Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) passed away, and his companions disagreed upon who would assume the caliphate after his death; the immigrants (Al-Muhajrun) or the “Ansar”, the supporters?

The companions of the Prophet met together in Saqifa Bani Sa’ida, and they conducted historic and great discussion and deliberation; which were of a unique constituent significance, which are often cited and invoked upon the occurrence of similar incidents.

The second importance of this research is associated with the particularity of pragmatics, and its procedural efficacy with respect to studying literary texts; taking into account the special nature of the speeches which were delivered, in that situation involving argument and dialogue; where everyone was attempting to convince the others with his opinion and option.  During the deliberations and discussions, the participants resorted to various methods of persuasion, difference approaches of negotiation and multi-communicative techniques, leading to actual achievements which are the core issue of this study; with the purpose of applying such approach and making use of the concepts thereof, without relying on all other critical approaches; due to the nature of the communicative discourse and verbal interaction, revealed by the intentions of the persons who participated in the deliberations.

This research attempts to reveal the actual achievements, which the core issue of this study, as well as investigating the communicative and purposive function of such intentions.  The research is limited to these pragmatic mechanisms, including situations, context and assumption, that may be used in other complementary studies to this notion.

Thirdly, these literary texts have a particular significance in ancient Arabic prose; because they were produced by eloquent and fluent Arabs, were the honorable companions of the Prophet (PBUH), who were influence the eloquence of the Holy Quran and the Prophet’s sayings.

The researcher is hopeful to produce a new breakthrough in order to instigate others to give due attention to these literary texts through delight criticism and analysis, particularly such texts have not been dealt with by researchers earnestly.