Application of Discourse Analysis Systems to the Theory of Wujub (Obligation) and Istihbab (Recommendation) in the Interpretation of Ayat al-Ahkam (With a Focus on the Quranic Verse about Making a Will)

Ayat al-Ahkam are the foundation of jurisprudential inferences, and the difference in the interpretation of such verses results in the change in the type of jurisprudential ruling and, consequently, the practice of those who carry out the rulings. In the Quranic discourse, the desirability of some practices is expressed in a way that their jurisprudential rulings can be interpreted as wujub as well as istihbab at the same time. Considering the capabilities that discourse analysis and the theories of this approach have for analyzing ayat al-ahkam, within the framework of discourse systems, the present article delves into the various interpretations of the Quranic verse about making a will using comparative and case study methods. The findings reveal that the wujub ruling of the verse corresponds to the consistent, "intelligent" discourse system, which is a system based on cognition and predetermined goals, and in this system, the actor operates in accordance with orders. The istihbab ruling of the verse corresponds to the emotional discourse system and tensional-emotional type. In the "emotional" discourse analysis system, the emotional aspect of discourse and how this system influences the audience along with its epistemic aspect are of considerable importance.