A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF AFGHAN WAR ANASHID USING FAIRCLOUGH AND HALLIDAY’S FRAMEWORKS

Abstract

This study employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to examine how Afghan war anashid (Islamic chants) intertwine religious and militant discourses to legitimize Jihad. By analysing a corpus of 24 anashid and their frequency data), the paper reveals how linguistic strategies—such as material processes (kill), imperatives (“March!”), and binary oppositions (believer/kafir)—construct a sacred duty to resistance. Findings demonstrate that concepts like “freedom” and “peace” are redefined through divine warfare, while repetition of religious lexicon (Jihad, shahadat) and Quranic intertextuality naturalize jihad as transcendental. The study underscores the need to address linguistic infrastructures of conflict to dismantle entrenched ideological narratives.