The Semiotic Structure of Tafākhur in the Qur’an: A Structuralist ‎Perspective on Modern Flexing Phenomena‎

Abstract

The concept of thematic interpretation, as developed by al-Farmawi based on the Qur'anic text, provides a contextual framework for exploring flexible and evolving ideas. This article examines tafākhur as a key term in the Qur'an’s deconstruction of the modern phenomenon of "flexing." The study approaches tafākhur through the lens of the philosophy of language, employing Ferdinand de Saussure’s structural semiotics as its primary analytical framework. Through this lens, the article argues that the term tafākhur, when analyzed using Saussurean semiotics, reveals significant relevance to the contemporary notion of "flexing" a social behavior characterized by ostentatious displays of wealth, status, and achievement. The analysis identifies two levels of meaning embedded in tafākhur. At the first level, tafākhur functions as a signifier associated with a sense of pride experienced by the believers after the event of Fatḥu Makkah, with the signified being the abstract concept of pride itself. At the second level, tafākhur signifies pride rooted in material possessions and worldly achievements—such as wealth, career, social status, and personal abilities—reflecting a form of boasting tied to temporal, worldly attributes.