the unique literary form of the qur'an

8/7/2019 The Unique Literary Form of the Qur'An

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-unique-literary-form-of-the-quran 1/24

The Unique LiteraryForm of the Qur’an

By Hamza Andreas Tzortzis



Hamza Andreas Tzortzis, a convert to Is-

lam, is an international lecturer, public

speaker, freelance writer, author, and activ-

ist. He is particularly interested in issues

such as religion and politics. He writes and

speaks about issues related to belief, politics,

spirituality, philosophy, ideology and more.

Hamza has delivered presentations at many

universities in the UK and abroad including

York University (Canada) and Maastricht

University (Netherlands). He has openly de-

bated politics lecturers, scientists and philoso-

phers, including representatives from the Na-

tional Secular Society, the Humanist Society

and various Christian organisations. Hamza

Andreas Tzortzis is a well known member of the Muslim community and delivers cir-

cles and talks at mosques and community

centres throughout the UK. He is currently

engaged in Post Graduate Islamic Studies.

The Muslim Research and Development

Foundation (MRDF) is a cooperative

venture run by a number of leading Muslim

scholars, Imams and professionals from a

variety of backgrounds. With its two main

elds identied as research anddevelopment, the foundation com-

menced its operation in 2002 and was

awarded ofcial charity status in 2007.

The foundation strives to articulate Islam

in a modern context and address the unique

situation and challenges faced by Muslims

in the West. An integral focus as a means to

this end is the study, analysis & pres-

entation of classical Islamic scholar-ship and its contemporary application.

Formatted and distributed by

www.islam21c.com for use by all.

This e-book has been published in

association with www.mrdf.co.uk,

and www.theinimitablequran.com



CONTENTS

Introduction

Arabic Literary Forms 6

What is the Qur’ansLiterary Form? 11

Is the Qur’an Poetry? 13

Is the Qur’an Mursal? 14

Is the Qur’an Saj’? 15

Qur’an Bound StylisticVariations 19

Conclusion 23



Introduction

“Read in the Name o your Lord ”

. T w w w Q’ v Pp M v g. M, w w kw v v M v w w k w v p w A -. N g kw v p p p vg p g, M v gg k w w , w, p, , p, ‘entirely new literary orm’. T pp K Ag ,

“ It is as though Muhammad had created an entirely new literary orm…Without this expe-

rience o the Koran, it is extremely unlikely that Islam would have taken root.”

6

T q w vv A, v w M7. T w p, Q’, w v-’ p, pp, p k.8

6:. T g M xg v w v. S Lg. M. Muhammad: His Lie Based on the Earliest Sources. 87. I ; Pp M v. T Q’ k A . N-M M

S Q’ A p. F xp Cg Uv W K M M, P I Ygw S Uv : “ Although Arabic, as a language and a literary tradition, was quite well developed by the time o Muhammad’s prophetic activity, it was only ater the emergence o Islam, with its ounding scripture in Arabic, that the language reached its utmost capacity o expression, and the literature itshighest point o complexity and sophistication. Indeed, it probably is no exaggeration to say that the Qur’an wasone o the most conspicuous orces in the making o classical and post-classical Arabic literature.” K.W. M. M, L Q’, Encyclopedia o the Qur’an, v. , pp. , 6. A A H.M. . Understanding the Qur’an: Temes & Styles. I. B. P, p. – Understanding the Qur’an: Temes & Styles, p. T Q’ k gv g ’ f. T p pp, xp Q’ w w k w p w (Understanding the Qur’an: Temes & Styles, p. 66-67)6 Ag. K. . A History o God: the 4,000 Year Quest o Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Vg, p.77 P Q’’ . G g w k p g p k (Q’ :). T g, w g, w pv A v. T A g Q’ N-A , ‘’ v p p Q’ C. Mg xp vv: “Te Koran[sic] admittedly occupies an important position among the great religious books o the world. Tough the youngest o the epoch-making works belonging to this class o literature, it yields to hardly any in the wonderul eect whichit has produced on large masses o men. It has created an all but new phase o human thought and a resh type o character. It rst transormed a number o heterogeneous desert tribes o the Arabian peninsula into a nation o he-roes, and then proceeded to create the vast politico-religious organizations o the Muhammadan world which are

one o the great orces with which Europe and the East have to reckon today.” Mg. G. 77. Introduc-tion to J.M. Rodwell ’s, Te Koran. Ev’ L, p. v8 v p , p www.p.



Te Qur’an’s Challenge T q kp I’jaz al-Quran, - Q’, w Q’’ g vg. T Q’ ,

“ I you are in doubt o what We have revealed to Our messenger, then produce one chapter like it. Call upon all your helpers, besides Allah, i you are truthul ”

A

“Or do they say he abricated the message? Nay, they have no aith. Let them produce a recital like it, i they speak the truth.”0

Ag Q’ xg, v g p surah (p-) Q’’ q . T -

g g w g A gg; p v v . T g p p w A gg Q’.

T p p g k Q’, q - Q’ . A “events which lie outside the productive capacity o nature ”. T g p M g pp , w A g ’ p, fv g; pvg xp Q’’q xp . T p x p, , p kw A gg. T vp q p pv , p , G, - pv xp.

I pp xp w Q’ v q , xpg .

:0 :- S I K; -Q; -J M’ Q’. P Te Encyclopedia O Islam, 7, V , E J B, L, p. 0; B. A. F. L, J. . M, S. R.B. S. G. R. (E.), Arabic Literature o Te End O Te Ummayyad Period , 8, Cg Uv P, p. & 7-8; G, A enth-Century Document O Arabic Literary Teory and Criticism, 0, T Uv Cg P, Cg, p. xv; A. A. I’jaz ul Qur’an, , I C, V VII, H D, p. & ; Gz. I, E. SM S, Muslim Studies (Muhammedanische Studien) II , 7, Gg A & Uw L., L, pp.6. S Bk. S. S. God, Nature, and the Concept o Miracle (P.D. D.: N D, 8) 0- Cg. W. L. Te Problem o Miracles: A Historical and Philosophical Perspective . (Av ) T w g . A, g p g p x. T x G, - v, pq . P Cg. Te Kalam Cosmological Argument . Wqp

Sk P; MG. A. Te Dawkins Delusion. SPCK; MG. A. Te wilight o Atheism. R;Cg. W. L S-Ag. W. God: A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist . Ox Uv- P W. K. God, Chance and Necessity. O W.



Arabic Literary Forms

Ag M N-M p, Q’ kw A p; p p. H6, p Egp L, g p w Q’ v q :

“But you know that the Qur’an is not prose and that it is not verse either. It is rather Qur’an,and it cannot be called by any other name but this. It is not verse, and that is clear; or it doesnot bind itsel to the bonds o verse. And it is not prose, or it is bound by bonds peculiar toitsel, not ound elsewhere; some o the binds are related to the endings o its verses and some to that musical sound which is all its own. It is thereore neither verse nor prose, but it is “a

Book whose verses have been perected the expounded, rom One Who is Wise, All-Aware.” We cannot thereore say its prose, and its text itsel is not verse. It has been one o a kind, and nothing like it has ever preceded or ollowed it.”7

Ev xp A gg p p. T ‘’ v g K; - p. Hwv g p p.

What is Arabic Poetry? A p p w 8. T (qayah) Ap v v p g p p . T

p A p p (arud ). A, A p x p al-Bihar , g ‘T S’ A. T v w pv g , k wv .

T wg p, w A p p;

-wî.-B.

-W. S ‘A -J. I’jaz al-Qur’an. C. 60, p. ; -R. Talath Rasa’il Ijaz al-Qur’an. E.M. K A & M. S, C. 6, p. 7-8; -K. Al-Bayan I’jaz al-Qur’an. E. D ‘A-A, M Uv, Ag, I. , p. 6; Bq. Al-I’jaz al-Qur’an. E. A. Sq, D-M’, Eqp pp 86-8; A’ ‘A A-R B -S ’. At-asir al-Bayani li-Qur’an al-Karim, . C, 68; A. 8. Te Koran. Ox Uv P, p. x; Lw. B. Journal o Qur’anic Studies. V VII, I I 00. Approximating Saj’ in English Renditions o the Qur’an: A Close Reading o Suran 93 (al-Duha) and the basmala p. 64 ;6 T Egp L 88 7.7 L ‘Prose in the second and third centuries ater the Hijra ’ v Ggp S- C 0. D M-.8

M p p p p, , w p p . L. 0. ranslations o Ancient Arabian Poetry. C Uv P, p. xv



-K.-R.-K 6.-Hz7.-Mk8.

-M.-Mk0.-Mkk .-M.-M.-R.-K.-S’6.

E al-Bihar v q p0. T al-Bihar w -

8 -K A v g . T g , g w vw. A g vw w vw g vw. A g w k g. IA p v w v.

Bw p A p,wg g (—) (^) . T p p - g. T p g w; w g .

awil ^ — — ^ — — ^ — — ^ — —^ — — ^ — — ^ — — ^ — —

Kamil ^ ^ — ^ — ^ ^ — ^ — ^ ^ — ^ —^ ^ — ^ — ^ ^ — ^ — ^ ^ — ^ —

Wafr ^ — ^ ^ — ^ — ^ ^ — ^ — —

^ — ^ ^ — ^ — ^ ^ — ^ — —

Rajs— — ^ — — — ^ — — — ^ —— — ^ — — — ^ — — — ^ —

Hazaj ^ — — — ^ — — —^ — — — ^ — — —

0 S L. ranslations o Ancient Arabian Poetry, p. xv- Wg. W. (88). A Grammar o the Arabic Language , V II, p . Cg Uv P, p. 0-0 p .



Basit — — ^ — — ^ — — — ^ — — ^ —— — ^ — — ^ — — — ^ — — ^ —

Khaf

— ^ — — — — ^ — — ^ — —— ^ — — — — ^ — — ^ — —

Saria’ — — ^ — — — ^ — — ^ —— — ^ — — — ^ — — ^ —

A xp A p A p Abu-l-‘Ata o Sind :

O thee did I dream,

while spears between us were quivering and sooth o our blood ull drop had drunken the tawnyshats I know not, by heaven I swear and true is the word I say this pang is it love sickness or a spell rom thee I it be a spell,then grant me grace o my love-longing I the other the sickness be then none is the guilt o thine.

T p, g A, p -w, -B w v. A A p w p p. T pp L Ck w p-I p-I p p -B.

I A p ,

E R•

S R P (• al-Bihar )

What is Arabic Prose? A P - p, g v p k p v. A p v w g; ’ w p M w g p w ‘ p’.

S C J. L. A A P, p . I S Ck. L. S’’ ‘-N, 80-8, B. Dv J Sw. S’ Q’: P S, T K: C Cp IS. E C , V. II.



Saj’ V Df k ‘U -Q’: A I S Q’’pv wg p:

“ A literary orm with some emphasis on rhythm and rhyme, but distinct rom poetry. Saj’

is not really as sophisticated as poetry, but has been employed by Arab poets, and is the best known o the pre-Islamic Arab prosodies. It is distinct rom poetry in its lack o metre, i.e. it has not consistent rhythmical pattern, and it shares with poetry the element o rhyme, thoughin many cases some what irregularly employed.”

Ag ’ f p k p, p p v ’6. A p p . S p x Eg gg. T w-g p, Baa Baa Black Sheep, w (w ) , w

vg .

Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool ? Yes sir, yes sir,Tree bags ull ;One or the mas-ter, And one or the dame, And one or the lit -tle boyWho lives down the lane

A ’ p A p - . R g v p p, fg p. Exp - , , p g (iltiaat ). Sw Encyclopaediao the Qur’an gg ’,

“ In addition, saj’ regularly involves the concentrated use o syntactic and semantic parallel-ism, alliteration, paronomasia and other rhetorical gures.”7

I ’ :

A p•

E •

C •

Mursal M g , g g w v, g . M w

Df. A. V. 00 (Rv E. ). ‘Ulum al-Qur’an: An Introduction to the Sciences o the Qur’an . T I F, p. 76 Dv J Sw. S’ Q’: P S.7 Sw. D. J. “R P”. Encyclopaedia o the Qur’an. G E: J D MAf,Ggw Uv, Wg DC. B, 008



xp v pk gg, xp p p g v .

I M ,

N p•

N •

A g w p•



What is the Qur’ansLiterary Form?

T Q’ w q w kw - 8. Hwv, w ’ M p, W S Q’’ ’. Agk Nw ,

“Saj’ is given up completely in the later suras where the rhyme makes use o a simple –un/-in – scheme to mark the end o rather long and syntactically complex verse….saj’ style is thusexclusively characteristic o the early suras”

T w g Q’ ’ Q’q kwg. N k Literary History o the Arabs ,

“Tus, as regards its external eatures, the style o the Koran is modelled upon saj ’, or rhymed prose…but with such reedom that it may airly be described as original.”0

Ag p Q’ p, w q g ’, ppg -p. gg B Lw ,

“Tose passages rom the Qur’an that approach saj’ still elude all procrustean eorts to reduce them to an alternative orm o saj’ .”

T p p p w Q’ v q q ’. T wg p w w xp .

. Unique usion o Metrical and Non Metrical Speech T Q’ v q g -M p. T - p p g w Q’ A x, p p.

. Qur’anic Saj’ T Q’ w ’, p M , p p w ’, w -g Q’ ‘Q ’. W k Q q x ,

8 S I. A. Te Literary Structure o the Qur’anic Verse . Q’ A F. 00. Nw, Agk. “R Q’”. Encyclopaedia o the Qur’an. G E: JD MAf, Ggw Uv, Wg DC. B, 008.0 N. R. A. 0. Literary History o the Arabs. Cg Uv P, p. Lw. B. J Q’ S. V VII, I I 00. Approximating Saj’ in English Renditionso the Qur’an: A Close Reading o Suran 93 (al-Duha) and the basmala p. 6



G -,•

Ix ,•

G g ’ p•

Hg q .•

. Qur’an bound stylistic variations Tg A Lg -A’, -R -Bq Q’ ’ q p ’. T g Q’, gg , w ’, p v. F Q’ g v w v p v f. T gg, v- f, , ,

S v ,•

G (•

iltiaat ),I w , g,•

C W,•

Uq g g,•

W .•

S ‘A -J. I’jaz al-Qur’an. C. 60, p. ; -R. Talath Rasa’il Ijaz al-Qur’an. E.

M. K A & M. S, C. 6, p. 7-8; -K. Al-Bayan I’jaz al-Qur’an. E. D ‘A-A, M Uv, Ag, I. , p. 6; Bq. Al-I’jaz al-Qur’an. E. A. Sq, D -M’, Eqp pp 86-8; -S’. A. A. At-asir al-Bayani li-Qur’an al-Karim, . C, 68.



Is the Qur’an Poetry?

T Q’ p - al-Bihar p x x g . Surahal-Kawthar (T A) g xp w A p,

Inna aAtayna kal kawthar Fasalli li rabbika wanhar Inna shani-aka huwal abtar

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ ^__ __ ̂ ^ __ ̂ ^ __ __

__ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ __ __ ^

A g v [wg g (—) (^) , g], p p al-Bihar A p. I p .M K Te Authorship o the Qur’an ,

“Readers amiliar with Arabic Poetry realize that it has long been distinguished by its wazn,bahr, ‘arud and qaya – exact measures o syllabic sounds and rhymes, which have to be strictly adhered to even at the expense o grammar and shade o meaning at times. All this iscategorically dierent rom Qur’anic literary style.”

K. M. Te Authorship o the Qur’an in Te Koran: Critical Concepts in Islamic Studies. E C , V. I, p.



Is the Qur’an Saj’?

Unique usion o Metrical and Non Metrical SpeechS p Q’ w p, , v al-Bihar 34 . Hwv, w Q’ p p v , p g . T k Arabic Literature to the End o the Ummayad Period ,

“Te Qur’an is not verse, but it is rhythmic. Te rhythm o some verses resemble the regular-ity o saj’…But it was recognized by Quraysh critics to belong to neither one nor the other category.”

T Q’ v q g - p w f pv6. T gg - p p g w Q’. T wgxp ,

“But the righteous will be in Gardens with Springs – ‘Enter in Peace and Saety!’ – and We shall remove any bitterness rom their hearts: [they will be like] brothers, sitting on couches, ace to ace. No weariness will ever touch them there, nor will they ever be expelled. [Prophet] tell My servants that I am the Forgiving, the Merciul, but My torment is the truly painul one. ell them too about Abraham’s guests: when they came to him and said “Peace,” he said,‘We are araid o you’”7

W g g A v v v -p p w xpg g g 8. T gg - p v wg v Q’,

“When she heard their malicious talk, she prepared a banquet and sent or them, giving eacho them a knie. She said Joseph, ‘Come out and show yoursel to them!’ and when the womensaw him, they were stunned by his beauty, and cut their hands, exclaiming, ‘Great God! He cannot be mortal! He must be a precious angel!’ She said, ‘Tis is the one you blamed me or.

I tried to seduce him and he wanted to remain chaste, but i he does not do what I command now, he will be put in prison and degraded.’”

K N. 8 ( P 00). Te Art o Reciting the Qur’an. T A Uv C P, p. 0 “ Although some o the lines o the Qur’an may be scanned according to the Classical Arabic me-tres*, these are not as characteristic o Qur’anic syllabic rhythmic patterns as are the abrupt or progressive shits inrhythmic patterns and length o line, and the shits between regular and irregular patterns.” *S -S’ (7: – ) -S (0: I/6 – 0) . B, J, S S (E), Arabic Literature o Te End O Te Ummayad Period .8. Cg Uv P. p. .6 -Sw. M. Te Miracles o the Qur’an. D qw, p. 7 :-8 Te Miracles o the Qur’an, p. :-



T p “Tis is the one you blamed me or ” A p. I w A p v0, g -Sw,

“ It is almost impossible or the listener to detect the shit rom one orm to the other, nor does

this exquisite mingling impinge on the fuidity o expression or impair its meaning.”

T Q’ q p. I p p p q v g - p. T vw pp A L A J. A,

“For the Koran is neither prose nor poetry, but a unique usion o both”

Qur’anic saj’ I v Q’’ gg

p w ’ M . Hwv, v g Q’ q p.Dv J. Sw w w Q’ gg f w ’ w , “Qur’anic saj’ ” ,

“Te analysis undertaken in this study makes possible some preliminary observations on the ormal dierences between Qur’anic saj’…”

T Q’ q, x ’ :

. Greater tendency to mono-rhyme T Q’ f ’ -, g ’ g w . Ag v 0% w Q’ w . T p , x z Q’, p A x.Sw :

“Qur’anic saj’ has a much greater tendency to mono-rhyme than does later saj’. A small number o rhymes…are predominant in the Qur’an whereas rhyme in later saj’ shows great-er variation.”

. Inexact rhyme T g p ’ . Hwv Q’ , w wk -R6 w Q’’ gg p . T Sw’ , ,0 Te Miracles o the Qur’an, p. I, p. A. A. 8. Te Koran. Ox Uv P, p. x Sw. D. J. Saj’ in the Qur’an: Prosody and Structure , p.0 A M. A, Fw. A. Science Miracles, No Sticks or Snakes. 000. Bv, M, USA: A

P. Sw. Saj’ in the Qur’an: Prosody and Structure , p.06 -R. Talath Rasa’il Ijaz al-Qur’an. E. M. K A & M. S, C. 6, p. 7-8



“Te Qur’an allows inexact rhymes which are not ound in later saj ’”7

. Greater range of saj’ phrases T v ’ g p ’ ’8. T Q’ f - ’ g g g ’. Dv J Sw ,

“Both in the Qur’an and in later saj’ we see that shorter saj’ is much more common, but the range in the Qur’an is greater.”

. Higher frequency of rhetorical features T Q’ ‘ ’. T Q’ x p q - , pg A x, 0. T Q’ p .

A p Q’ gg w g q -

. T pv q , wv gg Q’’ q, wg pv w Q’ p p, p p.

Ag ( 88:–6 & :-0)•

A ( :7 & 77:0)•

Ap ( :)•

A ( :7 & :8)•

A ( :)•

A ( 88:-6 88:-)•

C ( p w Q’, w •

Q. T Q v w pg p , , . N x , p q.)C ( :7)•

Epzx ( :-6)•

Eqvq ( :)•

H ( Q’ :- :)•

Hp ( 7:0, :0 :7-7)•

I ( 6:7-0)•

Mp ( : :8)•

M ( : 6:7)•

P ( 7: :7)•

Pp ( 80:-6)•

R Q ( :60 7:-)•

S ( Q’ :6 :)•

7 I 8 I p. 8 I p. 00 S A-R. H. 00. Exploring the Qur’an. A-Mk I A P, p. 6-8;

A-R. H. 000. Qur’an ranslation: Discourse,exture and Exegesis. Cz P, p -7; Ek. F.. Q’ H: P Pp. Te Muslim World , V. 8, N. . p. 6 -8. I



S ( 0:-)•

S’ w , g q Q’, f p ’.



Qur’an Bound StylisticVariations

What Does ‘Stylistic Variations’ Mean? S g w v gg w gv , x g. S vp pp xp p .

S v f gg w. - k wg w Q’ v w ,

“Tese are the limits set by God, so do not approach them” “Tese are the limits set by God, so do not transgress them”

T v “pp” x wg v p pv,

“…but do not associate with your wives while you are in spiritual retreat in the mosques.”

T v “g” v x g -

pv p “” “”6

,

“ A divorce is only permissible twice: ater that, the parties should either hold ogether onequitable terms, or separate with kindness.”

I x v v xp pv p v vw Q’ w p p pv g.

How are these stylistic variations unique to the Qur’an? T Q’ v q g gg ’. H-J Te Enchantment o Reading: Sound, Meaning,and Expression in Surat Al-Adiyat w Q’ v q f, g :

“…Qur’anic ‘Arabiyya brings orth a dazzling assembly o word meaning and sound deying the conventions o both the Arabian saj’ and the literary rules o classical Arabic literature ”7

A-R. H. Qur’anic Stylistics: A Linguistic Analysis. L Ep. 00, p. . :87 : :876 A-R. H. Qur’anic Stylistics: A Linguistic Analysis. L Ep. 00, p -7 H-J. S. M. 000. Te Enchantment o Reading: Sound, Meaning, and Expression in Surat Al- Adiyat . Cz P, p.



I w Q’’ q , p’ w x8. Hwv f Q’ . T Q’ p q. T w Q’ -gg w kw A , ,

S •60

Iltiaat • : G 6

I w , g•6

Uq Lg G•6

W •

T wg xp pv g v Q’’ .

Example 1: Word Order, Sound & Meaning T wg xp w Q’ w, , -g v v g; w 6,p q q ,

‘waanzala alttawrata waal-injeela min qablu hudan lilnnasi waanzala alurqana’

“He revealed the orah and the Gospel, aoretimes, or guidance to mankind; and revealed the Criterion (i.e. the Qur’an)”6

A v p:

‘waanzala alttawrata waal-injeela waal-urqana min qablu hudan lilnnas’

T v g w. F g k ,

8 I, p. 8 S A-R. Qur’anic Stylistics: A Linguistic Analysis. L Ep. 00; Te Qur’an: An Encyclopeadia. E Ov L. “Q’ S”. Rg; zz. H. Tree Lines that Changed the World: Te Inimitability o the Surah al-Kawtar (v www.q.) .60 S -‘Ak (. M Q). 8. Kitab al-Sina-‘atayn: al-Kitaba wa ‘l-Shi ’r . B: D -K -‘I, p. 86 A H. M. . Understanding the Qur’an: Temes & Styles. I. B. P, p. 8-0 N N R. 6. Discovering Te Qur’an: A Contemporary Approach o A Veiled ext .SCM P L., p. -6 Q. S. 66. al-aswir al-Fanni al-Qur’an. C: D -M’, Q. S. 66. Mashahid al-Qi- yama ‘l-Qur’an. C: D -M’., M S. . S Sp G S -Q. Journal o the American Oriental Society , p. -, S. M. Sound and Meaning in Surat Al- Qariahin Arabica V 0, S. M. 000. A Literary Approach to the Hymnic Surahs o the Qur’an: Spirit, Gender and Aural Intertextuality. Cz P, p. -.6 zz. H. Te Unique Genre o the Qur’an. C www.. www.-q.6 F R F Q’ A-R. 00. Ex- ploring the Qur’an. A-Mk I A P, p. 6-8; A-R. 000. Qur’an rans-

lation: Discourse,exture and Exegesis. Cz P, p -7; Ek. F. . Q’ H:P Pp. Te Muslim World , V. 8, N. . p. 6 -8.6 :-



about, they pray to Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience: ‘I Tou dost deliver us romthis, we shall most certainly be o the grateul ones.’ But when He delivers them, lo! they are unjustly rebellious in the earth. O humankind! your rebellion is against your own souls - provision o this world’s lie - then to Us shall be your return, so We shall inorm you o what you did ”7

N R k Discovering the Qur’an: A Contemporary Approach to a Veiled ext xp v x ,

“ At rst sight it may appear hopelessly garbled, but the three consecutive pronominal shitsare all perectly logical. Te shit rom the second person plural to the third person plural ob- jecties the addressees and enables them to see themselves as God sees them, and to recognize how ridiculous and hypocritical their behaviour is. Te shit back to the second person plural marks God’s turning to admonish them. Finally the speaker’s shit rom the third personsingular to the rst person plural expresses His majesty and power, which is appropriate in

view o the allusion to the resurrection and judgment.”7

T Q’. I v p p. T Q’ w x ( v) w g p g v. I pg N R g Q’,

“…are a very eective rhetorical device.”76

T Q’ A p v v x-

v px . A H ,

“…it employs this eature ar more extensively and in more variations than does Arabic poetry. It is, thereore, natural to nd…no one seems to quote reerences in prose other than rom the Qur’an”77

T Q’ kw A p. I g- v w v .

7 0:7 R. N. 00. Discovering the Qur’an: A Contemporary Approach to a Veiled ext . Ggw U-

v P. 76 I77 A H. M. . Understanding the Qur’an: Temes & Styles, p. 8-0



Conclusion

Is the Literary orm based upon subjective criteria? S Q’ Q’ g v p . T Q’ p, p q. L p ; p x. I v g .

Te Qur’an is Unique T Q’ q A p. T gg - p p. I v q ,

Igg - p•

g g ’•

Ug g v •

T v p p , w w q , q v. T Q’ p w 78. T g p A HG ,

“.…the Meccans still demanded o him a miracle, and with remarkable boldness and sel

condence Muhammad appealed as a supreme conrmation o his mission to the Koran itsel.Like all Arabs they were connoisseurs o language and rhetoric. Well, then i the Koran were his own composition other men could rival it. Let them produce ten verses like it. I they could not (and it is obvious that they could not), then let them accept the Koran as an outstanding evidential miracle.”7

T M -M S w Q’ q . A g A A -R - At-asir al-Bayani li-Qur’an al-Karim, w p wk I g , pp v H

‘ Arabic composition should be divided into three categories, prose, verse and Qur’an, saj’ orming a part o prose but the Qur’an being a category o its own.’80

A g W M Sp Q’ q . F pv w - p w pv g w 78 S B L. Te Encyclopedia O Islam, 7, V , p. 0; B, J, S S (E.), Arabic Literature o Te End O Te Ummayyad Period , 8, Cg Uv P,p. & 7-8; G. A enth-Century Document O Arabic Literary Teory and Criticism. 0, T Uv Cg P, Cg, p. xv; A A. I’jaz ul Qur’an, , I C,V VII, H D, p. & ; Gz, E. S. Muslim Studies (Muhammedanische

Studien) II , 7, Gg A & Uw L., L, pp. 67 G. H. A. R. 80. Islam: A Historical Survey. Ox Uv P, p. 880 Saj’ in English Renditions o the Qur’an: A Close Reading o Surah 93 (al-Duha) and the basmala p. 6



p g k Q’ . P BLw ,

“ As tangible signs, Qur’anic verse are expressive o an inexhaustible truth, they signiy mean-ing layered with meaning, light upon light, miracle ater miracle ”8

8 Lw. B. Te Qur’an: A Biography. A Bk, p 8.

the unique literary form of the qur'an

Documents