Intermediate
Interrogation
Surah: Al-Dhariyat (21)
The Existential Question in the Quran — The Rhetorical Interrogative Style
وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ
— الذاريات الآية 21
Definition of rhetorical interrogative:
Using the question form not for seeking information — but for various rhetorical purposes: affirmation, denial, arousal of interest, wonder, regret, argumentation.
Types of rhetorical interrogative and Quranic examples:
Using the question form not for seeking information — but for various rhetorical purposes: affirmation, denial, arousal of interest, wonder, regret, argumentation.
Types of rhetorical interrogative and Quranic examples:
- Affirmative interrogative: "Did We not expand your breast for you?" (94:1) — not a question but affirmation: "We have indeed expanded your breast" — the affirmative interrogative makes the affirmed thing a given truth.
- Denial interrogative: "Are you then to compel people until they believe?" (10:99) — means absolute negation — no, no one is compelled to believe.
- Interest-arousing interrogative: "Has the news of the Overwhelming come to you?" (88:1) — creates anticipation before informing.
- Regret interrogative: "Do you not reason?" (2:44) — reproof and regret for those who abandoned reason.
- The great existential question: "And in the earth are signs for those certain in faith — and in yourselves, do you not see?" (51:20-21) — a question reformulating the human's relationship with self and universe.
Source: Al-Zarkashi (3/196); Al-Jurjani (p.125); Al-Suyuti (3/228)
Test Yourself
What are the five types of rhetorical interrogative? Give a Quranic example for each.
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