This document outlines the literary styles and forms found in the Quran. It discusses how the Quran is neither prose nor poetry, but a unique fusion. Some key literary forms explored are mathal (simile, metaphor), jadal (debate), qissah (narrative, story), qasam (oath) and qul (say). The document concludes the Quran's style has been truly preserved as promised by Allah and cannot be replicated by other writers. References include books, software and websites for further information.

2. Literary Styles of the
Qur ’an
RKQS 2010
Yaqeen Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander

3. Outline
• Introduction
• The Literary Style of the Qur’an
• The Literary forms of the Qur’an
– Mathal
– Jadal
– Qissah
– Qasam
– Qul
• Conclusion
• References

4. Introduction
• Usool at-Tafseer, Dr Bilal Philips
• Qur’an – It’s various names, Importance
• A Believer’s Guide

5. Literary Style of the Qur’an
• Neither Prose nor Poetry
• 'It is not the word of a poet; little it is ye believe! Nor
is it the word of a soothsayer: little admonition it is ye
receive. (This is) a message sent down from the Lord
of the worlds’ (Haaqqa:40-43)
• Ibn Khaldun in Muqadimmah ‘Allah revealed the best
story, a book harmoniously arranged with repeated
verses ...' (Al-Qur'an 39: 23)”
• “If you are in doubt of what We have revealed to Our
messenger, then produce one chapter like it. Call
upon all your helpers, besides Allah, if you are
truthful” Al Qur’an, Chapter 2, Verse 23

6. Literary Forms of the Qur’an
• Mathal (simile, proverb or metaphor)
• “He sends down water from the skies which flows in valleys
according to their capacities, and the flood carries swelling
froth on its surface; there is a similar froth in the (ore) which
they heat in the fire in order to make ornaments or
implements. In this way, Allah makes a comparison between
truth and falsehood. For the froth is thrown away and
disappears, while that which is beneficial to man remains on
earth. In this way, Allah makes parables.”
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 13, verse 17

7. Literary Forms of the Qur’an
• Jadal (debate)
• “Certainly, the human being is the most
argumentative creature!” Al Qur’an, Chapter 18, verse
54
• “Call to the path of your Lord with wisdom and good
admonishment and debate with them in the best
way.”
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 16, verse 125
• “Only debate in the best manner with the people who
follow revealed books.”
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 29, verse 46

8. Literary Forms of the Qur’an
• Qissah (narrative, story)
• “I recite to you the true story of Moosaa and
Pharoaoh.”
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 28, verse 3
• “In their stories there is definitely a lesson for
those possessing understanding. It is no
invented story but a confirmation of the
previous (scripture).
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 12, verse 111
 3 categories of stories: Prophets, Events, Battles

9. Literary Forms of the Qur’an
• Qasam (oath)
• “By the Sun and the early morn, by the moon when it follows it.”
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 91, verse 1-2
• “Those who disbelieve claim that they will never be resurrected.
Say, ‘Certainly, by my Lord, you will be resurrected, then you will
be informed of what you did.’ ”
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 64, verse 7
• “By your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you the
judge in their disputes.”
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 4, verse 65
• “Verily, I swear by the Day of Resurrection and I swear by the self
admonishing soul,”
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 75, verse 1-2

10. Literary Forms of the Qur’an
• Qul (say)
• 'Say: Nothing will happen to us except what
God has decreed for us: He is our Protector
...'
• Al Qur’an, Chapter 9, verse 51
• Say: He is Allah, One & Only etc

11. Conclusion
• Truly, we can conclude that Qur’an is a book from Allah
(SWT) and it has been truly preserved in its unique
form and literary style as per Allah’s promise:
• “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and
indeed, We will be its guardian” Al Qur’an, Chapter
15, verse 9
• Arberry - “For the Koran is neither prose nor
poetry, but a unique fusion of both” The Koran, Arthur
J Arberry, p. x
• E H Palmer-That the best of Arab writers has never
succeeded in producing anything equal in merit to the
Qur'an itself is not surprising.” The Qur’an, E H
Palmer, Part I, p. lv

12. References
 Books:
• Philips, Dr. Bilal, Usool at-Tafseer, Dar al Fatah, (Sharjah, UAE – 1997)
• Qattan, Manna Al, Mabaahith fee Uloom ul Qur’an, Muassisah al Risalah, (Beirut – 1980)
• Suyuti, Jalaluddin, Al Itqaan fee Uloom ul Qur’an, Dar al Fikr, Beirut
• Ibn Khaldun, The Muqaddimah, Princeton University, 1967
• Von Denffer, Ahmad, Ulum ul Quran, www.youngmuslims.ca
• Yusuf Ali, Abdullah, The Holy Quran, Goodword Books, (New Delhi – 2005)
• Arberry, Arthur J, The Koran, Oxford University Press (Oxford – 1998)
• Palmer, E H (Tr.), The Qur’an, 1900, Part I, Oxford at Clarendon Press (1900)
• Sikander, Yaqeen Ul Haq Ahmad The Divine Inspirations, (Kuala Lumpur – 2011)
 Softwares:
• Zekr, Version 1.0, The Zekr Quranic Project.
 Websites:
• www.sunnipath.com
• www.kalamullah.com
• www.islamiconlineuniversity.com
• www.youngmuslims.ca
• www.theinimitablequran.com