The lexical foundations of rhetorical concepts in Esâsü'l-Belâğa

This thesis aims to comprehensively examine the lexical (dictionary-based) foundations of the rhetoric concepts in Ebû'l-Kâsım Mahmûd b. Ömer ezZemahsharî's (d. 538/1144) work Esâsü'l-Belâğa, a figure who has had a profound impact in the fields of Arabic Language and Islamic studies. Although Zemahsharî's theological background is rooted in Muʿtezilism, he stands as a significant authority whose works in language and Qur'anic exegesis transcend sectarian boundaries. The work Esâsü'l-Belâğa is an original resource that goes beyond being a merely alphabetically arranged dictionary, deeply analyzing the layers of meanings of words, their metaphorical and allegorical uses, their relationship with literary arts, and Qur'anic rhetorical examples. Within the scope of the thesis, Zemahsharî's lexicon-centered rhetorical approaches will be discussed particularly around the core elements of the science of maʿânî (meanings), namely khabar (report) and inshâʾ (composition) sentences. The concepts examined will be evaluated from lexical, terminological, and Qur'anic perspectives in a multi-dimensional manner, systematically revealing Zemahsharî's philosophy of language, understanding of words, and rhetorical stance. Moreover, this study does not merely provide a philological analysis of the text but also aims to contribute Zemahsharî's intellectual structure, linguistic sensitivity, and rhetorical depth to contemporary academic literature. Thus, Esâsü'lBelâğa will be positioned as an indispensable reference in classical Arabic rhetoric research.