Khasa'is al-Ta'bir al-Qurani wa Simatuhu al-Balaghiyya
- Author died
- 1429 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat Wahbah
Khasa'is al-Ta'bir al-Qurani wa Simatuhu al-Balaghiyya ("Characteristics of Quranic Expression and Its Rhetorical Features") is a two-volume scholarly study on the rhetorical style and inimitability of the Quran by the Egyptian scholar Abd al-Azim al-Mat'ani (d. 1429 AH / 2008 CE).
Background and Composition
The book originated as the author's doctoral dissertation, which was awarded the distinction of excellent with first-class honors (مرتبة الشرف الأولى). In official academic records, the work was originally registered under the title Khasa'is al-Ta'bir fi al-Qur'an al-Karim wa-Simatuhu al-Balaghiyya. When preparing the work for publication, the publisher Wahba Hasan Wahba proposed abbreviating the title to Khasa'is al-Ta'bir al-Qur'ani wa-Simatuhu al-Balaghiyya, which the author accepted as identical in meaning.
Al-Mat'ani completed the book's introductory preface in Mecca in the al-Aziziyya district on 12 Rabi' al-Thani 1412 AH (19 October 1991 CE). The work was published by Maktabat Wahba in two volumes in 1413 AH (1992 CE).
Scope and Method
The work examines the aesthetic, rhetorical, and stylistic dimensions of Quranic composition (al-nazm). While its title focuses on expression, the study serves as an applied exploration of the inimitability of the Quran (i'jaz al-Qur'an). Al-Mat'ani situates the Quran's primary inimitability in its literary and rhetorical eloquence (al-i'jaz al-bayani al-adabi), arguing that clarifying this dimension is particularly urgent in the modern era.
Structure
The study is organized into parts and thematic chapters:
- Part One (al-Bab al-Awwal): Functions as an introduction to linguistic expression, examining the evolution and purpose of linguistic communication, as well as the role of rhetorical devices in enhancing expressive beauty.
- Part Two (al-Bab al-Thani): Devoted to the core characteristics of Quranic expression. It explores theoretical frameworks of Quranic inimitability, including the doctrine of sarfa (the claim of divine diversion of human capacity), scientific inimitability (al-i'jaz al-'ilmi), legislative inimitability (al-i'jaz al-tashri'i), and literary-rhetorical inimitability (al-i'jaz al-bayani al-adabi). It further examines specific expressive features relating to wording (alfaz) and meaning (ma'ani).
Reception
Following the defense of the thesis, a report was published in the Egyptian daily newspaper al-Ahram highlighting the defense. The author subsequently received numerous telephone inquiries and written requests for copies of the dissertation—including from legal figures such as State Council counselor Muhammad Atiyya—prior to the commercial printing of the work.
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