Inayat al-Muslimin bi-Ibraz Wujuh al-Ijaz fi al-Quran al-Karim - Hasan Abd al-Fattah Ahmad
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Inayat al-Muslimin bi-Ibraz Wujuh al-Ijaz fi al-Quran al-Karim ("Muslims' Care in Highlighting the Facets of Inimitability in the Noble Quran") is a contemporary study on the inimitability of the Quran (i'jaz) by Hasan Abd al-Fattah Ahmad .
Background and Purpose
The treatise explores the historical and intellectual engagement of Muslim scholars with the concept of Quranic inimitability, tracing how their efforts began as a defense of the scripture against criticisms and doubts . The author notes that this defensive effort stimulated the development of various Quranic sciences, particularly Arabic rhetoric (balagha), making rhetorical inquiry an essential key to revealing the facets of inimitability while inimitability itself served as the foundation of rhetoric . In setting out the rationale for the subject, Ahmad also touches upon modern manifestations of institutional care for the Quran, including modern printing complexes, scholarly symposiums, and international bodies such as those under the Muslim World League dedicated to studying the Quran and Sunnah and demonstrating their inimitability .
Structure and Contents
The work addresses the foundational definitions of miracle (mu'jiza) and inimitability (i'jaz) as articulated by Muslim scholars, the principles upon which the facets of inimitability are constructed, and the scholarly debate regarding whether inimitability is singular or multifaceted . Ahmad organizes these facets into two overarching categories:
- Textual and intrinsic facets (al-i'jaz al-dhati), pertaining directly to the Quranic text as pure Arabic discourse, encompassing its linguistic, stylistic, and rhetorical properties .
- Scientific and cosmic facets (al-i'jaz al-'ilmi), drawing on established knowledge in the cosmic sciences concerning the wonders of divine creation in the universe that correspond to indications found within the Quran .
In the second chapter, the book reviews scholars' responses to contested theories of inimitability—such as the doctrine of divine deterrence (al-sarfa)—and demonstrates how refuting these doctrines led to deeper investigations into the intrinsic eloquence of the text . The third chapter examines the criteria used by classical authorities, such as al-Khattabi, to distinguish reliable facets of inimitability from disputed ones, highlighting the persistent challenges scholars faced in fully defining the exact nature and manner of the Quran's inimitability . The fourth chapter analyzes contemporary studies on scientific inimitability over the past two centuries, evaluating the shift from purely linguistic and internal reflections to broader cosmic correlations .
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