Simile, Metaphor, and Metonymy in the Quran
terms
Level: intermediate
rhetorical
trm-014
وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعٗا
— آل عمران 103
Simile (tashbih): Comparison with particle — "Their example is like one who kindles a fire" (2:17).
Metaphor (isti'ara): Without particle — "Hold fast to Allah's rope" (religion given the metaphor of rope).
Metonymy (kinaya): Non-literal meaning by implication — "Do not make your hand chained to your neck" = do not be miserly.
Why? Abstract concepts (faith, misguidance) are hard to grasp abstractly — images embody them tangibly for everyone.
Source: Al-Zarkashi (3/411); Al-Jurjani
Question: What is the difference between simile and metaphor?
Answer: Simile: with explicit particle (like/as). Metaphor: particle omitted — the compared-to replaces the original — more eloquent and forceful.