Jinas (Paronomasia) — Phonetic Beauty with Semantic Difference
balagha
Level: advanced
jinass
blg-010
وَهُمۡ يَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنۡهُ وَيَنۡـَٔوۡنَ عَنۡهُ
— الأنعام 26
Definition: Two words similar or identical in pronunciation with different meaning.
Perfect jinas: Complete identity in letters and form — rare in the Quran, occurring as perfection not artifice.
Imperfect jinas: Resemblance without identity — more common and more beautiful.
Quranic example: "They forbid it and distance themselves from it" (6:26) — "yanhawn" (forbid) and "yan'awn" (distance) — phonetic similarity with semantic difference embodying the contradiction of their state.
Source: Al-Zarkashi (3/459); Al-Suyuti (3/297); Al-Zamakhshari
Question: What is the jinas in "they forbid it and distance themselves from it"?
Answer: "Yanhawn" (forbid) and "yan'awn" (distance) — great phonetic similarity with different meanings, embodying their contradiction: they forbid others and themselves also keep away.