Literary Styles of the Quran

RKQS 2010
Yaqeen Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander

Outline
Introduction The Literary Style of the Quran The Literary forms of the Quran
Mathal Jadal Qissah Qasam Qul

Conclusion References

Introduction
Usool at-Tafseer, Dr Bilal Philips Quran Its various names, Importance A Believers Guide

Literary Style of the Quran

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 Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 23

Literary Forms of the Quran

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 Quran, Chapter 13, verse 17

Literary Forms of the Quran

Jadal (debate)
Certainly, the human being is the most argumentative creature! Al Quran, 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 Quran, Chapter 16, verse 125 Only debate in the best manner with the people who follow revealed books. Al Quran, Chapter 29, verse 46

Literary Forms of the Quran

Qissah (narrative, story)
I recite to you the true story of Moosaa and Pharoaoh. Al Quran, 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 Quran, Chapter 12, verse 111 3 categories of stories: Prophets, Events, Battles

Literary Forms of the Quran

Qasam (oath)
By the Sun and the early morn, by the moon when it follows it. Al Quran, 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 Quran, Chapter 64, verse 7 By your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you the judge in their disputes. Al Quran, Chapter 4, verse 65 Verily, I swear by the Day of Resurrection and I swear by the self admonishing soul, Al Quran, Chapter 75, verse 1-2

Literary Forms of the Quran

Qul (say)
'Say: Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us: He is our Protector ...' Al Quran, Chapter 9, verse 51 Say: He is Allah, One & Only etc

Conclusion
Truly, we can conclude that Quran is a book from Allah (SWT) and it has been truly preserved in its unique form and literary style as per Allahs promise: Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian Al Quran, 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 Quran, 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 Quran, Muassisah al Risalah, (Beirut 1980) Suyuti, Jalaluddin, Al Itqaan fee Uloom ul Quran, 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 Quran, 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