Issues on the Precision of Quranic Word Sequencing (Nazhm)

Abstract

Precision of nazhm is a methodological foundation in the study of the rhetoricof the Holy Quran. In light of this, the research tackles five issues:(1) the impact of the overall context in analyzing the Quranic nazhm,(2) studying the proportionality of the Quranic nazhm according to the revelation order of the Surah,(3)the allegation that there are gaps in the Quranic text, (4) the position of the name of the Surah in the Quranic nazhm, and (5) the differentiation of rhetoric in the Quranic nazhm. The conclusions reached by the researcher after authentication, discussion, and critical assessment, include the following:

1)Studies of proportionality have shown real maturity in the overall(textual) approach to nazhm of any Surah.This approach has included all parts of these studies in the light of the discourse objectives and context of nazhm. These studies are considered precedence in modern text studies in theory and application.

2) The application of some criteria from modern text studies .

3) The unity of the Quranic nazhm and the interrelation of its various parts necessitate and implicate that the analysis of its expression and the orientation of its methods must be in accordance with the entire context and overall nazhm of the part and the Surah. It is not adequate to investigate an excerpt of nazhm only, without considering the entire context.

4) Important as it is, the linguistic (textual) context is not enough for analyzing the rhetoric of the Quranic nazhm and demonstrating its meaning, because there are other worthy aspects such as Hadith, reasons and circumstances of the revelation of the Quranic verses (Asbaab al-nuzool), and the consensus of previous knowledgeable commentators.

5)The reorganization of the verses or Surahs of the Holy Quran according to their sequence of revelation repeals the view of proportionality and lexical or semantic coherence among the verses of the Holy Quran, as well as its Surahs.

6) Besides, applying the “textual gaps” proposition to the Quranic nazhm as used in the reception and deconstruction theory repeals its precision, meanings, and purposes. This is because in this sense, the Quranic text is fragmented, incoherent, in cohesive, and incomplete, and the reader has to fill in the gaps in order to repair and complete its nazhm and make it precise.

7)Names of the Surahs are not part of the Holy Quran, therefore the rhetorician should not focus on the analysis of the name of the Surah taking it to be a lexical item of the Quran or part of the structure of the Surah and its nazhm. Meanwhile, the study of Surah names independent of the nazhm of the Surah and analysis of its structure and meaning has its own merit, but it should not be considered as a study of the structure of the Quranic nazhm.

8)Lastly, if rhetoric is based on taking into account conditions and circumstances, and if rhetoric among people is compared and attributed to shortcomings in their realization of these circumstances, then this comparison does not apply to rhetoric in the Holy Quran, because Allah the Almighty is All-Knowing and All-Aware, and His words are absolutely adequate to meet all circumstantial purposes. The researcher recommends the following: 1)Scholars should practice caution towards rapidly applying modern textual approaches to Quranic nazhm, because these approaches contain methodological problems that are inconsistent with the specialty and sanctity of Quranic nazhm.2)They should evaluate the modern textual studies that have applied their methodology to the Quranic nazhm in order to criticize them, explain their problems, and consider what the rhetorical approach could benefit from the techniques of these studies.3) Finally, it is recommended to conduct further comprehensive studies in order to develop the rhetorical approach to the overall (textual) study of the Quranic Surah in its entire benefiting from the vast and  insightful achievements of proportionality studies as well as the  techniques