The Function of Similie in the Words of Prophet to Outline the Imamate of Imam Ali

Similie is one of the pillars of rhetoric and the most-frequently used literary  device. Similie is an effective structure that enables the addresser to better  transfer and highlight the content in the mind of addressees. A thorough  analysis of similies used in the qutations of prophet Muhammad (PBUH)  reveals that He employed varied discourses according to the addresses’  status in different contexts. Prophet utilized similie in his comments to  outline the most significant aspect of prophethood after him, namely  the issue of Imamate and the lofty status of Imam Ali. It goes without  saying that similie and the elements used in a similie generate a capacity  in the brain of prophet’s addressees towards better understanding the  similarity between the tenor and the vehicle. The elements in the similies  utilized by porphet serve a specific purpose, namely enlightenment. The  findings of the present study corroborate the claim that prophet adopted  a metaphorical approach toward outlining the important issues in society. The researchers in the current paper also argue that in explaining the similies of prophet, scholars need to pay particular attention not only to the context of use and the structure of a metaphor but also to the role played by prophet in outlining the most vital issue of society , namely Imamate, the circumstances in the then fledgeling Islamic society and the characterisitcs of the prophet.