The Semiotic Track of Fear in the Prophet Musa's Mother Story in the Holy Qur'an

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims at demonstrating the involvement of fear in the story of prophet Musa’s mother in the Holy Quran and its semantic impact in the Quranic narrative.

Methods: The study adopted the semiotic approach to achieve its objectives, by tracing the emotion of fear in the story of Umm Musa, peace be upon him, in Surah Taha and Surah Al-Qasas, and analyzing it using the semiotic procedures of emotions. Its semiotic manifestations were noted starting from composition to evaluation, studying its structural characteristics and emotional self-efficacy in relation to its subject and addressing the influence, as the psychological state of Umm Musa affected by the state of things (Pharaoh threat).

Results: The study concluded that the command of Pharaoh to kill every male newborn created an intimated setting which led to an antecedent indication of fear creation in all its forms. Fear indeed was the dominant factor throughout the whole story besides sadness as it was both a reason and an outcome. On the contrary, love set a contradiction which created the feeling of security and salvation. The self-concept appeared conscious and aware of what was happening, avoiding revealing those emotions which made the reunion possible through the Lord’s arrangement along with the human’s efforts supported by revelation/source. This led to the self’s competence of being capable and acting accordingly. That was the reason the mother was encouraged, and the sister was motivated to act.

Conclusions: These results are summarized in the fact that the emotion of fear has an active role in moving the events of the story of Umm Musa, and since its source is one of the Pharaoh, the study recommends the need to complete its study in the story of Moses, peace be upon him, in the Holy Qur’an, as a manifestation and a prohibition.