The literary aspect of i'jaaz, although the strongest and most apparent aspect of miracle, is the most difficult aspect to discuss in a non-Arabic medium. The Qur'aan is in
"… clear Arabic” (Q26[Shu'araa]:195),
and in order to understand this concept of ijaaz, a thorough understanding of the Arabic language is essential.
Instead of detailing and giving examples of these various aspects of literary ijaaz - a task which is well nigh impossible to do in a foreign language - it would perhaps be more prudent to give a few examples of the impact that the eloquence of the Qur'aan had on its first listeners.
Perhaps one of the most famous stories is the story of aI-Waleed ibn al-Mugheerah.
AI-Waleed was the most eloquent and highly esteemed poet of Makkah at the time of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam). He once passed by the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) and heard him reciting the Qur'aan. This had a visible effect on him, and he went away shaken and startled by what he had heard. The news of this incident spread throughout Makkah.
Aboo Jahl, afraid that the people of Makkah might be affected by this news and convert to lslaarn, rushed to al-Waleed, and told him, "O my uncle! Say something (against Muhammad) so that the people will know that you are against him and hate (his message)." AI-Waleed replied, 'and what can I say? For I swear by Allaah, there is none amongst you who knows poetry as well as I do, nor can any compete with me in composition or rhetoric - not even in the poetry of jinns! And yet, I swear by A1laah, Muhammad's speech (meaning the Qur'aan) does not bear any similarity to anything I know, and I swear by Allaah, the speech t'hat he says is very sweet, and is adorned with beauty and charm. Its first part is fruitful and its last part is abundant (meaning that it is full of deep meanings), and it conquers (all other speech), and remains unconquered! It shatters and destroys all that has come before it (of poetry, because of its eloquence)!"
Aboo [ahl responded, Your people will not be satisfied until you speak against him!" AI-Waleed therefore requested Aboo Jahl, "Leave me for a few days, so that I may think of an appropriate response to give to the Quraysh." After the few days were over, Aboo Jahl came back to him and asked him what he had prepared. AI-Waleed, during this time, could not think of any explanation to give except, ''This (the Qur'aan) is a type of magic that has an effect on its listeners."
In response to this, Allaah revealed:
Nay! Verily he (i.e., al- Waleed) has been stubborn in opposing our verses and signs ... Verily, he thought and plotted; So let him be cursed, how he plotted! And once more let him be cursed; how he plotted! Then he thought! Then he frowned and was irritated; then he turned back and was proud! Then he said. 'This is nothing but magic from old; this is nothing but the word of a mortal'!' I will cast him Into the Hell-fire ...“ (Q74[Muddathir]:I6-26).
This, then, is the testimony from the greatest poet alive at the time of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa salam)!
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited