قرآنِ مجید کے ادبی اعجاز کا کلاسیکی و جدید لسانیاتی تناظرات میں تقابلی و تنقیدی جائزہ

A Comparative and Critical Study of the Literary Inimitability of the Qur’an in Classical and Modern Linguistic Perspectives

Abstract

This research paper presents a comparative and critical study of the literary inimitability (Iʿjāz) of the Qur’an in both classical and modern scholarly perspectives. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate that the concept of Qur’anic inimitability is not merely a theological belief, but also a profound literary, linguistic, and rhetorical reality that can be examined through established analytical frameworks. The first part of the paper explores the lexical and technical meanings of iʿjāz, its recognition during the Prophetic and Companions’ era, and the foundational classical theories, including the doctrines of ṣarfah, naẓm (coherence), and balāghah (rhetoric). Drawing upon the works of leading classical scholars such as al-Bāqillānī, ʿAbd al-Qāhir al-Jurjānī, and al-Zamakhsharī, the study argues that the Qur’an’s linguistic precision, semantic depth, and structural harmony constitute the essence of its literary uniqueness. The second part examines contemporary approaches to Qur’anic inimitability, particularly the theory of thematic and structural coherence (Naẓm al-Qurʾān), as well as modern linguistic analyses including discourse analysis, ring composition, phonetic symmetry, and narrative variation. The study also critically evaluates orientalist objections related to stylistic repetition, historical development, and literary evolution. It argues that such critiques often overlook the Qur’an’s internal coherence and its historical challenge (taḥaddī). The findings suggest that the Qur’an’s literary inimitability is multidimensional, encompassing rhetorical excellence, structural balance, phonetic artistry, and psychological impact. Classical and modern perspectives ultimately converge in affirming the Qur’an’s unparalleled literary character, making the study of its iʿjāz a dynamic and continually evolving academic field.