An Analysis of Metaphors of the Concept of

Amini, Farideh

doi:10.22034/ijs.2025.519167.1514

An Analysis of Metaphors of the Concept of "Anger" in the Narrations of Imam Reza (A.S.) with an Emphasis on Ethical-Emotional Education

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Farideh Amini

Assistant Professor, Department of Quranic Studies and Hadith, Faculty of Theology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/ijs.2025.519167.1514

Abstract

The present study, adopting a cognitive semantics approach, analyzes the conceptualization of anger in the narrations of Imam al-Riḍā (A.S.)and elucidates how conceptual metaphors structure human understanding of divine and human anger. The research corpus comprises forty narrations from Imam al-Riḍā (A.S.)concerning anger, analyzed through a cognitive approach and the tool of conceptual metaphor. The findings indicate that anger in these narrations is situated within three domains: divine, human, and satanic. In the divine domain, anger is conceptualized through the source domains of force, distance, and fire. These source domains play a deterrent role in human education and serve as reminders of the severe consequences of sin. This anger arises from moral values and is directed toward the reform of human beings, not personal vengeance. Such a paradigm renders ethically-oriented human anger justified and purposeful. The origin of divine anger is divided into two levels: doctrinal and behavioral. Anger in the human domain can be differentiated based on its nature and the manner of confrontation. The domains of motion, disequilibrium, force, heat, mountain, key, and substance conceptualize the nature of anger, while the domain of force manifests in the confrontation with anger. Satanic anger is conceptualized on the basis of medicine, signifying Satan's exploitation of this emotion as a tool of seduction and cognitive disruption. From the perspective of emotional education, the analysis of the narrations highlights emotional self-awareness, anger management, psychological equilibrium, ethical boundary-setting, and conscious forgiveness. Anger in these narrations is regarded as an accepted emotion within human beings and is construed as constructive anger when it is restrained and leads to moral growth. Those who attain this station are counted among the believers, the best of people, and the virtuous (muḥsinīn).

Keywords

Narrations of Imam al-Riḍā (AS)

Conceptual Metaphor

Cognitive Analysis of Emotions

Emotional Education

Anger

Subjects

امام رضا علیه السلام و علوم تربیتی

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International Journal of Imam Reza (as) and modern sciences

Volume 3, Issue 10
Winter 2026
Pages 35-70

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Receive Date 30 April 2025
Revise Date 04 September 2025
Accept Date 22 November 2025
First Publish Date 20 February 2026
Publish Date 20 February 2026

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International Journal of Imam Reza (as) and modern sciences

An Analysis of Metaphors of the Concept of "Anger" in the Narrations of Imam Reza (A.S.) with an Emphasis on Ethical-Emotional Education

Volume 3, Issue 10Winter 2026Pages 35-70

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Volume 3, Issue 10
Winter 2026
Pages 35-70