Intermediate Incitement & Warning Surah: Al-Shams (13)

Definition of urging (ighra) and warning (tahdhir):
Urging: Inciting the addressee toward a praiseworthy action — the object is present but its governing verb is obligatorily omitted.
Warning: Alerting the addressee about a blameworthy thing to be avoided — with the governing verb also obligatorily omitted.

The verse:
"He said: O my people, this is the she-camel of Allah, a sign for you — leave her to eat in the land of Allah and do not touch her with harm." (7:73)
And in another verse: "The she-camel of Allah and her drink!" (91:13) — a warning by omission: meaning "Beware of the she-camel of Allah and her drink."

Rhetorical dimensions:

• The omission creates awe — as if the matter is too great to explicitly state its governing verb
• Adding the she-camel to Allah (she-camel of Allah) gives her absolute sanctity — violating her is violating Allah
• "And her drink" — the water belongs to her alone on her drinking day — absolute individuation of a small creature with a special divine right

Al-Zamakhshari: "The she-camel of Allah and her drink — urging and warning are among the most eloquent styles because the omission implies the matter is too majestic to say: beware."

Source: Al-Zamakhshari (4/758); Al-Zarkashi (3/175); Al-Maydani (2/67)

Tags: الإغراء والتحذيرالشمسالحذفناقة اللهالبلاغة القرآنية