Intermediate
Laff & Nashr
Surah: Al-Baqara (77)
Orderly Unfolding — "He Knows What They Conceal and What They Announce"
يَعۡلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعۡلِنُونَ
— البقرة الآية 77
Definition of laf and nashr (envelopment and unfolding):
Mentioning multiple items (envelopment) then following them with their rulings or descriptions (unfolding) — either in order (each ruling matches its preceding item in sequence) or scrambled (a ruling does not directly match its counterpart).
The verse — orderly unfolding:
"He knows what they conceal and what they announce." (2:77)
Analysis:
Two matters are enveloped: (1) the secret (2) the announced — then the ruling "He knows" is unfolded upon them — the unfolding is orderly because one ruling covers both together.
A more detailed example:
"And of His mercy He made for you the night and the day — that you may rest in it and seek of His bounty." (28:73)
Enveloped: night and day. Orderly unfolding: "that you may rest" matches night, "seek of His bounty" matches day.
Rhetorical effect:
Concision with comprehensiveness — elements are mentioned together then the ruling is distributed over them — more impactful than detailing them in two separate sentences.
Mentioning multiple items (envelopment) then following them with their rulings or descriptions (unfolding) — either in order (each ruling matches its preceding item in sequence) or scrambled (a ruling does not directly match its counterpart).
The verse — orderly unfolding:
"He knows what they conceal and what they announce." (2:77)
Analysis:
Two matters are enveloped: (1) the secret (2) the announced — then the ruling "He knows" is unfolded upon them — the unfolding is orderly because one ruling covers both together.
A more detailed example:
"And of His mercy He made for you the night and the day — that you may rest in it and seek of His bounty." (28:73)
Enveloped: night and day. Orderly unfolding: "that you may rest" matches night, "seek of His bounty" matches day.
Rhetorical effect:
Concision with comprehensiveness — elements are mentioned together then the ruling is distributed over them — more impactful than detailing them in two separate sentences.
Source: Al-Zarkashi (3/401); Al-Suyuti (3/265); Al-Maydani (2/389)
Test Yourself
What is orderly laf and nashr? Give an example from Surah Al-Qasas.
Show Answer