البلاغة والأسلوبيّات في رسالةِ "أيّها الولد" للغزالي:صلتها بعلم اللغوياتِ التطبيقية والتواصل الأخلاقي في العصر الحديث

Abstract

Studies on Ayyuhal Walad by Abu Ḥamid al-Ghazali have predominantly focused on theological and Sufi ethical dimensions, while its linguistic aspects, particularly rhetoric and stylistics, remain underexplored. Yet the persuasive power of this treatise is deeply rooted in al-Ghazali’s rhetorical strategies and stylistic choices when offering moral instruction to his student. Addressing this gap, the present study aims to analyze the rhetorical and stylistic devices in Ayyuhal Walad and to examine their relevance to applied linguistics and moral communication in the modern era. This research adopts a qualitative library-based method using classical Arabic rhetorical analysis, modern stylistics, and discourse analysis. Data were gathered through close reading of the primary text supported by secondary sources on balaghah, language pedagogy, and persuasion theory. The findings indicate that al-Ghazalyemploys devices such as repetition, parallelism, antithesis, metaphor, and direct address to strengthen the ethos, pathos, and logos of his moral message. The study concludes that the linguistic architecture of the treatise not only enhances its spiritual persuasiveness but also provides a significant model for effective moral communication, text-based language teaching, and rhetorical studies within applied linguistics.