Unique Literary Form of Quran | Inimitable Style
The Quran's literary form is uniqueโneither poetry nor prose, challenging the greatest Arab poets.
Did You Know?
The Quran represents a unique literary genre that broke all established patterns in Arabic literature, leaving the best poets and linguists unable to match its style despite explicit challenges to do so.
ููุฅูู ูููุชูู ู ููู ุฑูููุจู ู ููู ููุง ููุฒููููููุง ุนูููููฐ ุนูุจูุฏูููุง ููุฃูุชููุง ุจูุณููุฑูุฉู ู ููู ู ููุซููููู ููุงุฏูุนููุง ุดูููุฏูุงุกูููู ู ููู ุฏูููู ุงูููููู ุฅูู ูููุชูู ู ุตูุงุฏูููููู
And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant, then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful.
Quran 2:23
Explanation
The Quran's literary form cannot be adequately classified within the established categories of Arabic literature. It is neither poetry, as it does not conform to any of the 16 Arabic poetic meters (al-Bihar), nor is it prose or rhymed prose (saj'). This unique literary style was immediately recognized by contemporaries as extraordinary and inimitable. Despite the Quran's direct challenge to produce even a single chapter like it, the greatest Arab poets and linguists of the time could not rise to the challenge, despite Arabic literature being at its peak during the 7th century.
Scientific Details
Literary Uniqueness
The Quran's literary style avoids all known classifications of Arabic literature. It breaks from the 16 poetic meters (bihar) established by Al-Farahidi. It's also not prose (mursal) as it doesn't follow the conventions of Arabic prose, nor is it rhymed prose (saj') as its patterns differ significantly from established saj' patterns. This created a completely new literary paradigm.
The Challenge (Tahaddi)
The Quran presents a direct literary challenge (tahaddi) to create something similar to it. This challenge appears in multiple verses (2:23-24, 10:38, 11:13, 17:88). Initially, challengers were invited to produce an entire book like the Quran, then just ten chapters, and finally just one chapter. Despite reduced requirements, no one succeeded in creating anything comparable according to objective literary criteria.
References
- Tzortzis, H. A. (2015). The Linguistic Miracle of the Quran
- Abdul-Raof, H. (2003). Exploring the Quran
- Saeh, R. (2015). The Inimitability of the Quran