The Morphological Structures of the Plurals of Fewness and Abundance in the Scenes of the Day of Judgment: A Morphological-Semantic Study

Abstract

This study explores the morphological structures of plurals of fewness and abundance in the depiction of the scenes of the Day of Judgment in the Holy Qur’an through a morphological–semantic approach. It examines how plural patterns contribute to meaning construction and rhetorical imagery, arguing that the Qur’anic selection of plural forms is guided not only by morphological rules but also by contextual and stylistic considerations. The research outlines the traditional Arabic grammatical understanding of pluralization, fewness, and abundance, and clarifies the relationship between morphological structure and contextual meaning. The applied analysis focuses on selected Qur’anic examples in which plurals of fewness are employed to portray limited or individualized scenes, such as human weakness, fear, and vulnerability. The study shows that these forms may extend beyond their quantitative sense to convey rhetorical emphasis or relative multiplicity depending on context. It also examines plurals of abundance and their role in depicting comprehensive and universal scenes, including the gathering of creation, the spreading of records, and cosmic transformation. These forms evoke expansiveness and magnitude, reinforcing the intensity of eschatological imagery. The findings indicate that Qur’anic context can expand or restrict the semantic range of plural forms, transforming morphological structures into effective rhetorical devices that enhance semantic depth and textual impact. The study concludes that plural patterns play a significant role in shaping the linguistic and rhetorical representation of the Day of Judgment.