Post Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) Sermons: A Critical Discourse Study of Counter Oppression Verbal Strategies

The critical discourse study of Islamic sermons not only brings forth the persuasive and convincing aspects from linguistic perspective but also create true understanding of true Islam and a guideline for humanity as well. The present study aims to analyze the counter oppression verbal strategies in Post Prophet Muhammad sermons through critical discourse study in qualitative research paradigm. Sermon of Zainab binte Ali and Sakina binte Hussain in Kufa are analysed to attain the aforementioned aim. The sermons are studied from CDA perspective through Van Dijk’s concept of US v/s THEM with positive self-representation and negative other representation by bringing to limelight discourse structures, strategies or indicators proposed by Dijk (1995b) i.e. Positive self-representation and negative other representation, authority, disclaimer, evidentiality, comparison, polarization, euphemism, hyperbole, irony, victimization, generalization, pre-supposition and warning. The critical discourse study of the sermons would tend to highlight the persuasive power exercised by the holy females of Prophet Muhammad’s lineage that compelled the oppressor to move them away from Kufa.