Literary Miracles of The Quran
(The information in this section is from the Tarteel website.)
One reason why Muslims and non-Muslims around the world resonate with and are impacted so deeply by the Quran is due to the precision of its literature. Many people have called it a literary masterpiece and learn to read Arabic simply to be able to read the Quran in its authentic form.
This section will look at 7 literary techniques used in the Quran.
Al-Balagha (Rhetoric)
Al-Balagha is Quranic rhetoric, the divine way of presenting ideas and emotions in the most persuasive, eloquent, and impactful manner. In the Quran, every word, phrase, and verse is specifically chosen and placed for maximum effectiveness.
For example, chapter 79, Surah An-Naziat, verses 27 to 29:
أَأَنْتُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَمِ السَّمَاءُ ۚ بَنَاهَا رَفَعَ سَمْكَهَا فَسَوَّاهَا وَأَغْطَشَ لَيْلَهَا وَأَخْرَجَ ضُحَاهَا
Is it harder to create you or the heaven? But Allah built it, and raised its vault high and proportioned it; and covered its night with darkness and brought forth from it its day…
There is deep meaning with persistence that transcends the possibility of these verses being written as an afterthought.
I'jaz (Inimitability)
The Quran was revealed in Arabic. This is important because Arabic is famous for being poetic and very expressive. The Quran’s eloquence is unmatched, and so is the ability to share profound meanings and divine wisdom in such a succinct and clear way.
The linguistic superiority of the Quran is one of the reasons it is considered a miracle. In verse 23 of chapter 2, the Quran even challenges humanity to write a single verse that is equal to it in terms of poetic beauty and eloquence. This challenge is called the ‘Inimitability of the Quran’ or ‘I'jaz al-Quran’, and it has stood as an enduring testimony to the divine origin of the scripture, due to the fact that it has never been completed.
Chapter 2, verse 23:
وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّـهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful.
Ring Structure
The Quran does not follow a linear narrative style, which is common in literature. It provides a multilayered and holistic understanding of existence, covering themes of faith, behaviour, morality, and social values, keeping a coherent narrative throughout the text.
A ring structure, also known as a cyclical structure, is when the essence of the writing starts in a similar way to how it ends – the same way a circle comes back to the beginning. In this style of writing, there is usually a theme in the middle. One example of this structure in the Quran is in Surah Al-Baqarah. The starting and ending verses are about the afterlife, whereas the middle presents the Ummah as a balanced nation.
Every chapter is different, but they are all brought together to form a complete picture. The ring structure makes the Quran symmetrical, helping to make the message it conveys easier to remember.
Precision and Depth of Meaning
Being written in Arabic, the Quran has very deep meanings, with verses and chapters having multilayered meanings. It is due to this reason that many readers of the Quran have stated that they always learn or realise or notice something new in the Quran each time they read it.
Moral and spiritual lessons are conveyed through the use of metaphors and descriptive imagery – these help readers to better understand the teachings of the Quran.
Ellipsis (Taqdeer)
The Quran uses a technique called ellipsis to intentionally leave some information out, making the listener or reader think about what the meaning could be. In typical literature, ellipses (plural for ellipsis) are denoted with three dots (…) and can be used to represent an omission, a pause, or something left unsaid.
Parallelism
When a text is parallel, it add rhythm to it, helping to reinforce the message it is conveying.
An example of when this technique is used is in verses 3 to 5 of chapter 93, Surah Ad-Duha (Chapter of the Morning Hours):
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ وَلَلْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنَ الْأُولَىٰ وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰ
(O Prophet), your Lord has neither forsaken you, nor is He displeased. Indeed what is to come will be better for you than what has gone by. Verily your Lord will soon give you so amply that you will be well-pleased.
The parallel structure here beautifully highlights Allah's eternal compassion and generosity.
Timelessness and Universality
The message conveyed in the Quran is timeless, meaning it will always be relevant, and universal, meaning it is applicable to everyone and in all situations. The message in the Quran is able to relate to people from all walks of life, regardless of language and culture.
The fact that the Quran is timeless and universal has made it an inspiration to countless people for more than a thousand years.