Literary Styles of the Qur’an

RKQS 2010

Yaqeen Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander

Outline

• Introduction• The Literary Style of the Qur’an• The Literary forms of the Qur’an– Mathal– Jadal– Qissah– Qasam– Qul

• Conclusion• References

Introduction

• Usool at-Tafseer, Dr Bilal Philips• Qur’an – It’s various names, Importance• A Believer’s Guide

Literary Style of the Qur’an

• Neither Prose nor Poetry• 'It is not the word of a poet; little it is ye believe! Nor is it the

word of a soothsayer: little admonition it is ye receive. (This is) a message sent down from the Lord of the worlds’ (Haaqqa:40-43)

• Ibn Khaldun in Muqadimmah ‘Allah revealed the best story, a book harmoniously arranged with repeated verses ...' (Al-Qur'an 39: 23)”

• “If you are in doubt of what We have revealed to Our messenger, then produce one chapter like it. Call upon all your helpers, besides Allah, if you are truthful” Al Qur’an, Chapter 2, Verse 23

Literary Forms of the Qur’an

• Mathal (simile, proverb or metaphor)• “He sends down water from the skies which flows in valleys

according to their capacities, and the flood carries swelling froth on its surface; there is a similar froth in the (ore) which they heat in the fire in order to make ornaments or implements. In this way, Allah makes a comparison between truth and falsehood. For the froth is thrown away and disappears, while that which is beneficial to man remains on earth. In this way, Allah makes parables.”

• Al Qur’an, Chapter 13, verse 17

Literary Forms of the Qur’an

• Jadal (debate)• “Certainly, the human being is the most argumentative

creature!” Al Qur’an, Chapter 18, verse 54• “Call to the path of your Lord with wisdom and good

admonishment and debate with them in the best way.”• Al Qur’an, Chapter 16, verse 125• “Only debate in the best manner with the people who

follow revealed books.”• Al Qur’an, Chapter 29, verse 46

Literary Forms of the Qur’an

• Qissah (narrative, story)• “I recite to you the true story of Moosaa and

Pharoaoh.”• Al Qur’an, Chapter 28, verse 3• “In their stories there is definitely a lesson for

those possessing understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the previous (scripture).

• Al Qur’an, Chapter 12, verse 111 3 categories of stories: Prophets, Events, Battles

Literary Forms of the Qur’an

• Qasam (oath)• “By the Sun and the early morn, by the moon when it follows it.”• Al Qur’an, Chapter 91, verse 1-2• “Those who disbelieve claim that they will never be resurrected. Say,

‘Certainly, by my Lord, you will be resurrected, then you will be informed of what you did.’ ”

• Al Qur’an, Chapter 64, verse 7• “By your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you the judge in

their disputes.”• Al Qur’an, Chapter 4, verse 65• “Verily, I swear by the Day of Resurrection and I swear by the self

admonishing soul,”• Al Qur’an, Chapter 75, verse 1-2

Literary Forms of the Qur’an

• Qul (say)• 'Say: Nothing will happen to us except what

God has decreed for us: He is our Protector ...'

• Al Qur’an, Chapter 9, verse 51• Say: He is Allah, One & Only etc

Conclusion

• Truly, we can conclude that Qur’an is a book from Allah (SWT) and it has been truly preserved in its unique form and literary style as per Allah’s promise:

• “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian” Al Qur’an, Chapter 15, verse 9

• Arberry - “For the Koran is neither prose nor poetry, but a unique fusion of both” The Koran, Arthur J Arberry, p. x

• E H Palmer-That the best of Arab writers has never succeeded in producing anything equal in merit to the Qur'an itself is not surprising.” The Qur’an, E H Palmer, Part I, p. lv

References Books:• Philips, Dr. Bilal, Usool at-Tafseer, Dar al Fatah, (Sharjah, UAE – 1997)• Qattan, Manna Al, Mabaahith fee Uloom ul Qur’an, Muassisah al Risalah, (Beirut – 1980)• Suyuti, Jalaluddin, Al Itqaan fee Uloom ul Qur’an, Dar al Fikr, Beirut• Ibn Khaldun, The Muqaddimah, Princeton University, 1967• Von Denffer, Ahmad, Ulum ul Quran, www.youngmuslims.ca• Yusuf Ali, Abdullah, The Holy Quran, Goodword Books, (New Delhi – 2005)• Arberry, Arthur J, The Koran, Oxford University Press (Oxford – 1998) • Palmer, E H (Tr.), The Qur’an, 1900, Part I, Oxford at Clarendon Press (1900)• Sikander, Yaqeen Ul Haq Ahmad The Divine Inspirations, (Kuala Lumpur – 2011) Softwares:• Zekr, Version 1.0, The Zekr Quranic Project. Websites:• www.sunnipath.com• www.kalamullah.com• www.islamiconlineuniversity.com• www.youngmuslims.ca• www.theinimitablequran.com