Page 187 - Tafsir of surat at tawba repentance

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LITERARY FORM OF THE QUR’AAN

A a glimpse through of few of the forms have passages immediately it. The
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utilization of a variety of literary forms does not simply provide a flowery or
elaborate presentation which dazzles the reader or listener, but conveys the unique
message of the Qur’aan in the most effective way. As was mentioned in a
previous chapter, the aim of the Qur’aan is essentially the guidance of man in
three spheres: in his relationship with God, with himself, and with the human
society in which he exists. This aim permeates every verse and chapter from the
beginning of the Qur’aan until the last verse of its last chapter, number one
hundred and fourteen. Thus a variety of literary forms were used to bring this
message home to the reader without being monotonous or seemingly repetitious.
Many of the forms are unique to the Arabic language and its constructions, while
others are very intricate and appreciable only to literary and linguistic experts. In
this chapter we will briefly explore four of the more basic literary forms
employed throughout the Qur’aan: the mathal (simile, proverb, and metaphor),
the qasam (oath), the jadal (debate), and the qissah (narrative).

THE MATHAL

Although the term mathal is commonly translated as simile or metaphor, in
the context of the Qur’aan it includes proverbs, and even ideals. Hence, the
definition of a mathal according to the Islaamic sciences is a concise but
impressive and moving literary passage in which an idea is expressed, regardless
of its construction. The mathal in the Qur’aan comes in three basic forms, the

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