Introduction to BALAAGHA

Art of Eloquence

Lesson One

From AL-BALAAGHA AL-WAADHEHA

Modifications by

Sheikh Safdar Razi

IntroductionBALAAGHA means eloquence, beautification of the word or the meaning, presenting it in a better artistic and poetic method or in a metaphorical or rhetorical meaning.

The Holy Qur’aan

Nahjul Balagha – Peak of Eloquence - Imam Ali (as)

Qur’aanQur’aan challenged the Arabs with its eloquence.

The Arabs couldn’t challenge the beauty that the Qur’aan brought or its unique form and style.

Qur’aan presented an art that is unique, as it is neither poetic nor NATHER (literature/khutbah).

It was its own style.

Intro to BALAAGHAThe method of BALAAGHA creates an attraction for the listener.

For example if there was a disparity in two meanings used in a metaphor, then the more disparity the meanings has, the more metaphorical beauty it possesses given that the metaphor is comprehended by the listener.

They say: The more disparity in the meaning, the sweeter it sounds. In the case of condemnation a stronger message is indicated.

Ex: He is a skunk, because he stinks.

Examples IN the lessons of BALAAGHA: Similarity in description or simile (TASHBEEH) and Metaphors (MAJAAZ).

Intro to BALAAGHA - OutlineThe Book is divided into three sections.

A. AL-BADEE’ - Eloquence due to beautification of the structure of the word or the structure of the meaning.e.g. Due to the usage of the related words in the structure of the sentence.

B. AL-BAYAAN – Eloquence due to the use of words having a secondary meaning related with the original meaning, such as similes or metaphors. In this section the focus is on beauty the speech while looking at the secondary meanings and metaphors.

C. AL-MANAE’ (Abstract): Study of the meanings indicated by various types of sentences.Whether the sentences hold the meaning of predication or appealing (requirement), expanded sentence, or summarized sentence.

Index of Science of AL-BADEE’A. Beautification due to words;

1. AL-JINAAS - Complete and Incomplete

2. SAJE’

3. IQTIBAAS

4. Beauty of the beginning and the end

B. Beautification due to the meaning; 1. TAWREEYAH

2. TIBAAQ

3. ALMOQAABALAH

4. AL-LAFF WAL-NASHR

5. HOSN ATTA’LEEL (good justification)

6. Expression through exaggeration

7. Wise method

8. Emphasizing the praise with condemnation and opposite

JINAASJINAAS means similarity in the structure of two words or more with different meanings or with a disparity in the meaning.

First type Complete: Two words share four things -Two Homonyms Words (Bank and Bank) (They Rhyme) :1. Same Letters 2. Same Form of the word (FATHA, DHAMMA, KASRA) except for the grammatical vowel end signs.

3. Same Number of Letters4. Same Sequence (Arrangement) of Letters

Second Type: Incomplete :Only one of the conditions from the First Type can be disregarded.

AL-JINAAS - CompleteImam Jawad is Jawad – Which means that Imam Jawad is Generous. First Jawad is the name of the Imam (as), the second Jawad is descriptive adjective.

The Prophet was wearing a Sahab, and was walking under the Sahab – Sahab means cloud, and the turban of the prophet was called Sahab. The two words are the same but they have different meanings.

AL-JINAAS - CompleteSura Rome : Verse 55

FوُمFُقJَت JُمLوJَيJَوFُةJاَعJRا الَّسJَم JوَنFَمXِرLْجFُمLال FُمXَّسLُقFَي JِرLْيJَغ َيFْؤLَفJُكFوَنJ َسJاَعJُةaلJِبXُثFوا َكJاُنFوا JَكXلJَذJَك

[Shakir 30:55] And at the time when the hour shall come, the guilty shall swear (that) they did not tarry but an hour; thus are they ever turned away.

• The first SAA’AT is the day of judgment and the second one is time.

AL-JINAAS - IncompleteIf one of the condition in a complete AL-JINAAS is deleted then it becomes an incomplete AL-JINAAS

Violation of Condition #1 : Bank and Bunk. The example of Bank and Bunk would be an incomplete AL-JINAAS (Condition missing is #1 as only one different letter is allowed meaning that the letters are no longer the same)

Violation of Condition #2 : Changing the form means to switch the letters in the vowel signs (FATHA, DHAMMA, KASRA and SUKOON) such as Masdar. E.g. of Form Change : KATABA (wrote) to KUTIBA (was written) or KUTUB (books)

Violation of Condition #3 : Bank and Banker would be an incomplete AL-JINAAS because two letters have been added. (Only a maximum of two letter can be added)

Violation of Condition #4 : Read and Dear would be an incomplete AL-JINAAS – letters are not in same sequence (KITAAB, KAATIB).