امام قراءات امام شاطبي کاعلم بلاغت میں مقام: ایک تحقیقی جائزہ

The Status of Imam -e- Qira’at Imam Shatabi in the Field of Rhetoric: An Exploratory Review

Abstract

Rhetoric, known as Al-Balāghah in Arabic, holds a significant place in the Arabic language and literature. It is the art of effective communication and persuasion, deeply rooted in the rich tradition of Arabic eloquence. Arabic rhetoric aims to enhance the beauty and clarity of expression. It is essential for understanding elevated literary works, religious texts, and classical poetry. The study of rhetoric helps in appreciating the nuances of language, enabling speakers and writers to convey their messages with precision and elegance. This discipline not only enriches linguistic skills but also fosters critical thinking and analytical abilities, making it a cornerstone of Arabic linguistic tradition.

In my article I have explored the expertise in rhetoric of Imam Abul Qasim Shatabi, a renowned imam of Qira’at [Narrations of Qur’an]. Imam Shatabi [538-590 AD] didn’t wrote directly on rhetoric or Arabic literature. His books are merely about knowledge of Qira’at and other qur’anic sciences. But it was his great expertise in rhetoric that he wrote such a legendary Arabic rhetoric as a subsidiary in his books. He has used metaphors, similes, double entendre, puns, and oxymorons. He also uses allusions in his poetry. In summary, Shatabi was a great scholar in various fields. He was some kind of polymath.