Woman in Islamic Shari‘ah
3. Womanhood in Islam
~ 42 ~
mode of expression of the two statements, but there
is no difference in meaning. It is common, in every
language for metaphors to be expressed directly,
without the use of the words “like” or “as.” For
instance, if one wishes to pay tribute to a person’s
bravery, one can say that he is like a lion. But there
is not as much force in saying that a person is “like
a lion” as there is in saying that he “is
a lion.”
Examples of such usage abound in every language,
including English. A notable one is to be found in
the poem, “Morte d’Arthur,” by the celebrated poet,
Alfred Lord Tennyson:
37.
Al-Bukhari,
Sahih, Kitab an-Nikah (Fath aI-Bari,
9/207).
38.
Ibid., 9/207
.
... More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of, wherefore, let thy
voice,
Rise like a fountain for me night and day
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
