The Ethos in the Sermon of Aktham bin Saifi delivered to Banu Tamim: An Argumentative Approach

The current study aims to identify the ethos in the sermon of Aktham bin Saifi in Banu Tamim in light of the argumentative approach. It also aims to identify the images of the self that Aktham created for himself, and to reveal its argumentative role in persuading the addressees to accept the contents of the speech, aiming which is to accept Islam and follow the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)’s teachings. The paper is presented in the following sections, including an introduction including objectives, its significance, previous studies and its methodology, etc. Specifically, this paper briefly presents the concepts of argumentation and ethos as well as the research axes that include: the text of the sermon, the definition of its speaker and its occasion. It then identifies the elements in the sermon based on the most prominent multiple argumentative mechanisms that contributed to constructing the rhetorical ethos. Following the analysis is a conclusion that includes the most prominent results, including the following: the synergy of rhetorical ethos with pre-rhetorical ethos appearing in the construction of Aktham's ethos, showing his characteristics of wisdom which is characterized by strong influence in his rhetorical ethos. Also, the influence and persuasion of the addressees were evident in Aktham's sermon, as his construction of the rhetorical image appeared in his elevation of the image of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), in order to persuade the addressees of his call and to believe in it with certainty. The study recommended studying ancient Arabic prose represented by ethos in its two types and in light of the argumentative approach in an effort to reveal images of Arab selves and their characteristics, as well as to highlight the features of ancient Arab culture and images of life in it.