A New Exploration of the Semantic and Rhetorical Subtleties of Qasr in the Holy Quran with Reference to Absoluteness and Restriction in the Maqsur Alayh

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Bushehr, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

Abstract

Objective: This study examines the rhetorical phenomenon of Qasr, understood as the attribution of one element to another while negating it from others, as one of the strongest methods of emphasis in Arabic rhetoric. Given its central role in interpreting religious discourse, especially the Holy Quran, the study aims to investigate the limitations of traditional rhetorical classifications of qasr and to propose a new classification based on the concepts of atlaq and taqyid in the maqsur alayh.
Method: The study adopts a descriptive-analytical method. It systematically extracts Quranic verses that contain qasr, with special attention to corresponding verses in which the structure of restriction appears in different contextual forms. The analysis focuses on identifying whether the maqsur alayh is presented in an absolute or restricted form and on examining how this affects the semantic and rhetorical function of qasr within the Quranic text.
Results: The findings show that the absolute or restricted nature of the maqsur alayh plays a fundamental role in producing meaning and guiding interpretation. Traditional classifications of qasr, which mainly depend on the semantic relationship between its elements, are insufficient to explain all rhetorical dimensions of this phenomenon. The study demonstrates that the presence of atlaq and taqyid creates new rhetorical effects and reveals deeper layers of Quranic eloquence. Based on this analysis, qasr can be classified into four main types: absolute qasr, restricted qasr, compound qasr, and multiple qasr. The variety of restrictions applied to the maqsur alayh contributes to different levels of conceptual complexity in the expression of limitation within Quranic verses.
Conclusions: The study concludes that examining qasr through the lens of atlaq and taqyid offers a more precise understanding of its semantic and rhetorical functions in the Holy Quran. This approach provides a basis for a new classification that has been largely neglected in traditional rhetoric. By highlighting the role of restriction in shaping meaning, the study opens new perspectives for Quranic rhetorical analysis and encourages deeper reflection on the expressive and interpretive richness of the Quranic text.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 09 December 2024
  • Revise Date: 24 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 13 May 2025

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