Politeness in the Qur’an: A Pragmatic Perspective

This study investigates the pragmatic dimensions of politeness in the Qur’an, highlighting its role as both a linguistic and ethical framework for communication. Drawing primarily on Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory, complemented by Leech’s (1983) maxims and Goffman’s (1967) concept of face, the research examines how Qur’anic discourse employs strategies such as indirectness, mitigation, honorifics, and vocatives to navigate diverse communicative contexts. A qualitative descriptive method was applied to a purposive sample of thirty Qur’anic verses involving divine–human, prophet–community, and inter-human interactions. Analysis reveals that the Qur’an systematically integrates positive politeness (e.g., inclusive language, praise, reassurance) and negative politeness (e.g., softened commands, conditional phrasing, deference) to maintain dignity and respect while conveying divine authority. Indirectness and euphemism emerge as central strategies that mitigate face-threatening acts and encourage reflection, while honorifics and respectful vocatives reinforce solidarity and reverence. The findings demonstrate that Qur’anic politeness transcends mere social convention, functioning as a moral and pedagogical imperative rooted in Islamic ethics. The study concludes that politeness in the Qur’an is not incidental but a deliberate feature of divine communication, offering a model of civility that harmonizes authority with compassion and serves as a paradigm for ethical discourse in contemporary interfaith and social dialogue.