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Draft 0.1
By Hamza Tzortzis
hamza.tzortzis@theinimitablequran.com
Another technique used in the Qur’an is the deliberate configuration of words
and phrases. This technique is employed to enhance the overall expression; this
is achieved by arranging the words and phrases to conceptually relate to ideas in
neighbouring or previous statements.
Take the following structures as an example:
“That is Allah, your Lord! there is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then
worship Him: and He has power to dispose of all affairs.”
Thalikumu Allahu rabbukum la ilaha illa huwa khaliqu kulli shay-in
faoAAbudoohu wahuwa AAala kulli shay-in wakeelun
Qur’an 6:102
“Such is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things, there is no god but He: Then
how you are deluded away from the Truth!”
Thalikumu Allahu rabbukum khaliqu kulli shay-in la ilaha illa huwa faanna
tu/fakoona
Qur’an 40:62
Those of who have a primitive understanding of linguistics and Arabic rhetoric
(balagha) may describe the above examples as structural inconsistencies.
In the first structure, the phrase ‘There is no god but He’, occurs before the
phrase ‘The Creator of all things’; while in the second structure it is the other
way around. If a little thought is applied to this configuration we can see that the
structures have been revealed in the most perfect and accurate way, a way that
reinforces certain concepts and heightens the psycholinguistic effect.
The first structure is configured this way due to the previous verses, 95-101.
Which focus on monotheism as the main theme, hence statements starting with
‘It is He who causes…’, ‘It is He who makes…’, ‘It is He who sends…’. Also it
includes rebuttal of those claiming the Jinns are associates with God.
Therefore placing the phrase ‘There is no god but He’ enhances the expression
by reinforcing the message the Qur’an intends to portray.
In the second construction the previous verses, 57-61 are about creation, hence
putting the phrase ‘The creator of things’ first. Therefore the structure is attuned
to the concepts and ideas expressed in the previous statements; thus highlighting
and enhancing the message.
Another example of this superb arrangement and configuration of words is in the
following structure,
“Know that to Allah (alone) belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth?
He punishes whom He pleases, and He forgives whom He pleases: and Allah has
power over all things.”
Alam taAAlam anna Allaha lahu mulku alssamawati waal-ardi yuAAaththibu man
yashao wayaghfiru liman yashao waAllahu AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun
Qur’an 5:40
where ‘punishment’ is mentioned before ‘forgiveness’. This violates a general rule
in the Qur’an where the notion of forgiveness comes before the notion of
punishment; this occurs frequently, for example Qur’an 2:284, 3:129, 5:18, 23:
24 and 48:14.
The reason for this ‘violation’ is due to the previous verses of this construction,
38-39. It mentions the punishment of the thief and that justice must be
implemented. This example therefore mentions ‘punishment’ first to highlight
and enhance the expression.
This technique in the Qur’an is adopted throughout the text and it shows that it
is a sensitive genre; changing the arrangement and configuration of the words to
increase its communicative and psycholinguistic effect. This is just one of many
ways that the Qur’an achieves sublime rhetoric and unsurpassable eloquence.
By Hamza Tzortzis
hamza.tzortzis@theinimitablequran.com
Another technique used in the Qur’an is the deliberate configuration of words
and phrases. This technique is employed to enhance the overall expression; this
is achieved by arranging the words and phrases to conceptually relate to ideas in
neighbouring or previous statements.
Take the following structures as an example:
“That is Allah, your Lord! there is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then
worship Him: and He has power to dispose of all affairs.”
Thalikumu Allahu rabbukum la ilaha illa huwa khaliqu kulli shay-in
faoAAbudoohu wahuwa AAala kulli shay-in wakeelun
Qur’an 6:102
“Such is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things, there is no god but He: Then
how you are deluded away from the Truth!”
Thalikumu Allahu rabbukum khaliqu kulli shay-in la ilaha illa huwa faanna
tu/fakoona
Qur’an 40:62
Those of who have a primitive understanding of linguistics and Arabic rhetoric
(balagha) may describe the above examples as structural inconsistencies.
In the first structure, the phrase ‘There is no god but He’, occurs before the
phrase ‘The Creator of all things’; while in the second structure it is the other
way around. If a little thought is applied to this configuration we can see that the
structures have been revealed in the most perfect and accurate way, a way that
reinforces certain concepts and heightens the psycholinguistic effect.
The first structure is configured this way due to the previous verses, 95-101.
Which focus on monotheism as the main theme, hence statements starting with
‘It is He who causes…’, ‘It is He who makes…’, ‘It is He who sends…’. Also it
includes rebuttal of those claiming the Jinns are associates with God.
Therefore placing the phrase ‘There is no god but He’ enhances the expression
by reinforcing the message the Qur’an intends to portray.
In the second construction the previous verses, 57-61 are about creation, hence
putting the phrase ‘The creator of things’ first. Therefore the structure is attuned
to the concepts and ideas expressed in the previous statements; thus highlighting
and enhancing the message.
Another example of this superb arrangement and configuration of words is in the
following structure,
“Know that to Allah (alone) belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth?
He punishes whom He pleases, and He forgives whom He pleases: and Allah has
power over all things.”
Alam taAAlam anna Allaha lahu mulku alssamawati waal-ardi yuAAaththibu man
yashao wayaghfiru liman yashao waAllahu AAala kulli shay-in qadeerun
Qur’an 5:40
where ‘punishment’ is mentioned before ‘forgiveness’. This violates a general rule
in the Qur’an where the notion of forgiveness comes before the notion of
punishment; this occurs frequently, for example Qur’an 2:284, 3:129, 5:18, 23:
24 and 48:14.
The reason for this ‘violation’ is due to the previous verses of this construction,
38-39. It mentions the punishment of the thief and that justice must be
implemented. This example therefore mentions ‘punishment’ first to highlight
and enhance the expression.
This technique in the Qur’an is adopted throughout the text and it shows that it
is a sensitive genre; changing the arrangement and configuration of the words to
increase its communicative and psycholinguistic effect. This is just one of many
ways that the Qur’an achieves sublime rhetoric and unsurpassable eloquence.