Advanced Rhetoric Surah: An-Nahl (57)

Definition: The parenthetical clause (jumla itiradhiyya): a clause inserted between two parts of another clause for a rhetorical purpose. It has no syntactic position in the sentence, or it takes the position of the clause it interrupts.

Functions:

1. Emphasis: Strengthening the meaning of the speech.
2. Supplication: Encouraging the listener or seeking blessing.
3. Exaltation (tanzih): Declaring Allah free from deficiency in context.
4. Reasoning: Adding an incidental cause.

Quranic examples:

• "They assign to Allah daughters — glory be to Him — while for themselves what they desire" (16:57) — "glory be to Him" is a parenthetical exaltation between what they attribute to Him and what they want for themselves.
• "And indeed your Lord — He is the Almighty, the Merciful" (26:9) — strengthening the meaning and explaining deliverance.
• "Remember Allah as He has guided you" (2:198) — the kaf-clause is a parenthetical reasoning clause.

Difference from the hal clause: The hal clause is syntactically bound to its subject — the parenthetical clause stands alone with no syntactic owner.

Source: Al-Zarkashi, Al-Burhan (3/71); Al-Suyuti, Al-Itqan (3/198); Ibn Hisham, Mughni al-Labib (p.641); Ibn Ashur, Al-Tahrir (14/197)

Tags: الجملة الاعتراضيةالبلاغةالنحوالنحلعلوم القرآن