A Semiotic Analysis of the Body Language With Reference to the Facial Expressions in Selected Quranic Verses

Abstract

This paper investigates body language expressions used in the Glorious Quran as a non-verbal means of communication and it is verbally expressed. It refers to emotions, feelings and intentions expressed by the positioning of the body in different ways, gestures, eye movement and facial expressions. The main goal of this paper is to examine the body language expressions namely facial expressions used in selected Quranic verses semiotically. Therefore, this paper employs Peirce’s theory of semiotics to interpret and analyze the facial expressions with reference to two kinds of people mentioned in the Glorious Quran: the people in the earthly world and the Hereafter. The findings reveal that the facial expressions in the selected Quranic verses provide a precise understanding to the inner feelings which may not be attained verbally. In addition, the emotion expressions range from full-face (darkened and whitened faces) to expressions that are partial-face movements. However, the most influential facial expressions are the emotions of the people of Hereafter.