Intermediate Restriction Surah: Al-Hujurat (10)

Definition of restriction (hasr):
Limiting the subject by its predicate — affirming the ruling for what is mentioned and negating it for all else.

Restriction tools in the Quran:

1. "Innama" — the strongest restriction tool according to the majority
2. Fronting what should be postponed: "You alone we worship" (iyyaka)
3. "Illa" after negation: "There is no god but Allah"
4. The separating pronoun: "You are the ones in need of Allah"

The verse:
"The believers are but brothers." (49:10)

Rhetorical analysis:
"Innama" implies: believers are brothers only — not enemies, not rivals in the worldly sense, not divided. Brotherhood is the only identity that describes them. This makes conflict between believers a logical contradiction of their very definition.

Al-Zamakhshari: "Innama is for restriction — it implies here that brotherhood is the only true description of believers in their relationship with each other — and that anything else contradicts faith."

Source: Al-Zamakhshari (4/371); Al-Zarkashi (3/222); Al-Jurjani (p.116)

Tags: الحصرإنماالحجراتالتخصيصالبلاغة القرآنية