Intermediate
Quranic Address
Surah: Al-Baqarah (183)
Gradation in Quranic Address — From General to Specific
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ
— البقرة الآية 183
Quranic address categories: (1) "O people" — the most universal human address. (2) "O People of the Book" — for the religious. (3) "O you who believe" — for Muslims. (4) "O Prophet" — for the Prophet ﷺ.
Significance: "O you who believe" reminds of faith before the command — as if saying: "Because you are believers, this befits you."
Count: "O people" appears 20 times; "O you who believe" appears 89 times — indicating the extensive direct addressing of believers with rulings and ethics.
Significance: "O you who believe" reminds of faith before the command — as if saying: "Because you are believers, this befits you."
Count: "O people" appears 20 times; "O you who believe" appears 89 times — indicating the extensive direct addressing of believers with rulings and ethics.
Source: Al-Zarkashi (2/193); Al-Suyuti (3/120)
Test Yourself
Why is belief mentioned before the command in "O you who believe"?
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