Discourse Strategies in the Prophetic Admonitions: A Pragmatic Analysis of the Hadith "Preserve Allah and He Will Preserve You" as a Model

Abstract

This study aims to identify the discourse strategies and their mechanisms employed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in his admonition to Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both), through which he conveyed educational and religious values. It examines the applicability of the pragmatic approach to analyze prophetic discourses to achieve a deeper understanding, enhance communicative effectiveness, and realize intended purposes. Adopting an analytical method grounded in pragmatic tools, the study focuses on the ḥadīth “Preserve Allah and He will preserve you.” Findings reveal that the Prophet used discourse strategies to attract attention, maintain focus, guide thinking, build trust, and strengthen relationships, shaping the companions’ personalities doctrinally, spiritually, morally, intellectually, socially, and educationally. The study concludes that applying modern approaches like pragmatics provides new perspectives for understanding ḥadīth and contributes to language education, communication skills, and pedagogical enrichment.