4 Stylistic Tools Used in the Quran

To convey its message, the Quran employs various stylistic tools, including the following:

1. Narrative in the Quran

The Quran contains many narratives (qisas, singular qissah), referred to in the Quran itself:

{We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories} (Yusuf 12:3)

These narratives, which illustrate and underline important aspects of the Quranic message, fulfill their functions in a variety of ways. The following are some of the more common patterns:

• Explaining the general message of Islam

• Giving general guidance and a reminder

• Strengthening the conviction of the Prophet and the believers

• Reminding of the earlier prophets and their struggles

• Indicating the continuity and truth of Muhammad’s message

• Providing arguments against some opponents of Islam, such as Jews and Christians

As far as the contents of these narratives are concerned, one may, broadly speaking, distinguish between the following three kinds:

1. Stories of the prophets of Allah, their peoples, their message, their call, their persecution, etc., such as the narratives about Nuh (Ash-Shu`ra’ 26, Nuh 71), Musa (Al-Qasas 28), `Isa (Maryam 19) and many others
2. Other Quranic narratives about past people or events, such as the narratives about the Companions of the cave, or about Dhul Qarnain (Al-Kahf 18)
3. References to events that took place during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, such as the Battle of Badr (Aal `Imran 3:13), the Battle of Uhud (Aal `Imran 3:121-128), the Battle of Al-Ahzab (33: 9-27), the Night Journey (Al-Israa’ 17:1)

2. Similes in the Quran

Why Do You Read the Quran?

The Quran also employs similes (amthal, singular mathal) in many places to explain certain truths or to drive home important points of the message, by likening it to something well known or describing it in a pictorial manner. (See, for example, An-Nahl 16:75-76.)

The following verse is an example:

{He sendeth down water from the sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure, and the flood beareth (on its surface) swelling foam from that which they smelt in the fire in order to make ornaments and tools riseth a foam like unto it—thus Allah coineth (the similitude of) the true and the false.

Then, as for the foam, it passeth away as scum upon the banks, while, as for that which is of use to mankind, it remaineth in the earth. Thus Allah coineth the similitudes.} (Ar-Ra`d 13:17)

3. Passages With “Qul”

More than 200 passages in the Quran open with the word “qul” (say), which is an instruction to the Prophet Muhammad to address the words following this introduction to his audience in a particular situation, such as in reply to a question that has been raised, or as an assertion of a matter of belief, or announcement of a legal ruling.

Examples of this follow:

{Say: Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us: He is our Patron.} (At-Tawbah 9:51)

{Say: O People of the Scripture! Do ye blame us for aught else than that we believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed aforetime, and because most of you are evil-livers?} (Al-Ma’idah 5:59)

{They ask thee concerning (things taken as) spoils of war. Say: (Such) spoils are at the disposal of God and the Messenger: so fear God and adjust the matter of your difference: obey God and His Messenger, if ye do believe.} (Al-Anfal 8:1)

4. Oaths in the Quran

In a number of places the Quran employs oath-like expressions (aqsam, singularqasam). [For a brief discussion see also Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Quran: Text, Translation and Commentary, Appendix XIV.] The function of these oaths is to strengthen and support an argument, and to disperse doubts in the mind of the listener. In the Arabic text these passages are often opened by the word “wa” or the phrase “la uqsimu” (indeed, I swear).

Here are some examples:

Sometimes an oath is taken by Allah Himself:

{But no, by thy Lord, they can have no real faith until they make thee judge in (all) disputes between them and find in their souls no resistance against thy decisions but accept them with fullest conviction.} (Al-Quran 4:65)

Other oaths are taken by Allah’s creation:

{ By the sun and his (glorious) splendor,

by the moon as she follows him,

by the day as it shows up the sun’s glory,

by the night as it conceals it,

by the firmament and its (wonderful) structure,

by the earth and its (wide) expanse,

by the soul and the proportion and order given to it…} (Ash-Shams 91:1-7)

{ Nay, I swear by this city…} (Al-Balad 90:1)

Man should only take an oath by Allah the Creator, and not by anything created.

This article is part of the fourth chapter entitled “Form, Language and Style” in the author’s work Ulum Al-Qur’an.

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