Intermediate
Brevity & Expansion
Surah: Al-Rahman (13)
Amplification by Repetition — "Which of Your Lord's Favors Will You Deny?"
Definition:
Amplification by repetition (ithnab al-takrar): repeating a word or meaning for rhetorical purposes — emphasis, magnification, embedding, and giving the reader a pause for reflection — not for empty redundancy.
Quranic example: The verse "Which of your Lord's favors will you deny?" (Al-Rahman) is repeated 31 times.
The beauty:
Each repetition follows a new blessing or scene — a renewed awakening stroke: "You saw this — which of it will you deny?" As blessings accumulate, the inability to deny accumulates. Al-Zamakhshari: "It was repeated to reiterate affirmation and intensify reproach — and this is among the beauties of eloquent speech."
Amplification by repetition (ithnab al-takrar): repeating a word or meaning for rhetorical purposes — emphasis, magnification, embedding, and giving the reader a pause for reflection — not for empty redundancy.
Quranic example: The verse "Which of your Lord's favors will you deny?" (Al-Rahman) is repeated 31 times.
The beauty:
Each repetition follows a new blessing or scene — a renewed awakening stroke: "You saw this — which of it will you deny?" As blessings accumulate, the inability to deny accumulates. Al-Zamakhshari: "It was repeated to reiterate affirmation and intensify reproach — and this is among the beauties of eloquent speech."
Source: Al-Kashshaf by Al-Zamakhshari (4/447); Al-Zarkashi (3/9)
Test Yourself
What is the difference between intentional rhetorical repetition and blameworthy padding?
Show Answer