Rapport Enhancing Formulas in Prophetic Hadith: A Politeness Perspective

Abstract

It is very clear that language is not used merely to convey ideas and information; rather, it is also a means of strengthening and reinforcing relationships among individuals. Every language in the world possesses its own tools and mechanisms to achieve this purpose. This is also the case with the Arabic language, which is part of Arab Islamic culture, where numerous linguistic expressions are found within the noble Prophetic Sunnah that are employed to enhance and strengthen bonds of harmony within the Muslim community.

Many expressions such as:

1. “May Allah bless you, shower His blessings upon you, and unite you both in goodness.”
2. “May Allah bless you in your family and your wealth. Indeed, the reward for lending is gratitude and repayment.”
3. “Indeed, to Allah belongs what He has taken and what He has given, and everything with Him has an appointed term.”

These expressions, which are used respectively on occasions such as congratulating marriage, expressing gratitude for lending money, and offering condolences, represent linguistic forms that promote affection among members of society.This study aims to shed light on these various expressions found in the Prophetic Hadith by reviewing the six authentic Hadith collections, particularly Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, in order to present and analyze these expressions from the perspective of politeness theory.

To answer the following questions:
A. What strategies are used to strengthen bonds of harmony through politeness expressions?
B. What linguistic structures constitute these expressions?

These expressions will be analyzed within the framework of politeness theory, relying on Spencer-Oatey (2008) as a model for analysis. The study concludes that most of these expressions represent different aspects of a higher-level strategy that functions as an umbrella encompassing several sub-strategies. These typically take the form of supplication, which members of the Muslim community use to express prayers for others—such as prayers for health, reward, and guidance from Allah. The linguistic structures of these expressions vary in terms of length and grammatical composition.