Intermediate
I'jaz
Surah: Al-Isra (88)
Rhetorical Inimitability — Definition and Four Types
قُل لَّئِنِ ٱجۡتَمَعَتِ ٱلۡإِنسُ وَٱلۡجِنُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتُواْ بِمِثۡلِ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ لَا يَأۡتُونَ بِمِثۡلِهِۦ
— الإسراء الآية 88
Definition:
Rhetorical Inimitability (I'jaz al-Bayani) is the incapacity of all humans and jinn to produce anything comparable to the Quran in eloquence, style, and literary uniqueness — the most apparent dimension of its miracle for the eloquent Arabs.
Four Types:
Rhetorical Inimitability (I'jaz al-Bayani) is the incapacity of all humans and jinn to produce anything comparable to the Quran in eloquence, style, and literary uniqueness — the most apparent dimension of its miracle for the eloquent Arabs.
Four Types:
- Stylistic Inimitability: A genre unlike poetry, prose, or rhymed prose — a singular, independent form.
- Structural Inimitability (Nazm): Incomparable coherence of words and meanings, as analyzed by Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani.
- Eloquence (Fasaha): Each word is in its optimal position — no synonym substitution is lossless.
- Imagery (Taswir): The Quran's power to embody abstract meanings and move emotions through vivid imagery.
Source: Al-Baqillani, Ijaz al-Quran; Al-Jurjani, Dala'il al-Ijaz; Al-Suyuti, Al-Itqan (2/339)
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What are the four types of rhetorical inimitability in the Quran?
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