Mabahith fi Ijaz al-Quran
- Author died
- 1442 AH
- Editions
- Dar Al-Qalam
Mabahith fi Ijaz al-Quran (Studies in the Inimitability of the Quran) is a contemporary work on Quranic studies by the scholar Mustafa Muslim (d. 1442 AH / 2021 CE), examining the concepts, domains, and manifestations of the Quran's inimitability (i'jaz).
Background and Composition
The core material of the book originated from the author's doctoral dissertation on the inimitability of the Quran, presented to the Faculty of Usul al-Din at Al-Azhar University. When assigned to teach the course on i'jaz al-Qur'an within the Department of the Quran and Its Sciences at the Faculty of Usul al-Din at Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, the author revised, abridged, and supplemented the dissertation to match the academic curriculum and published it for broader benefit.
Structure and Contents
The book spans approximately three hundred pages. After reviewing earlier and modern scholarly opinions that enumerated various aspects of i'jaz, the author synthesizes the facets of Quranic inimitability into four primary categories:
- Rhetorical Inimitability (al-I'jaz al-Bayani): Examines the eloquence and rhetoric of the Quran, its stylistic cohesion and composition (al-nazm), and its unique mode of expression.
- Scientific Inimitability (al-I'jaz al-Ilmi): Addresses cosmic and natural phenomena mentioned in the Quran, establishing guidelines for scientific interpretation and discussing subjects such as astronomy, the creation of the heavens and the earth, mountains, oceans, atmospheric conditions, embryology, and fingerprint uniqueness.
- Legislative Inimitability (al-I'jaz al-Tashri'i): Explores the perfection and comprehensiveness of the Quran in matters of creed, legal rulings, and ethics.
- Inimitability of the Unseen (al-I'jaz al-Ghaybi): Covers Quranic knowledge of the past, present disclosures, and prophecies concerning the future.
Publication History
The first edition was published by Dar al-Manara in Jeddah in 1408 AH (1988 CE). A second, revised edition with corrections and additional sections was subsequently prepared by the author in Sha'ban 1415 AH and issued by Dar al-Muslim.
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