An Interpretational Research on Quran’s Rhetorical Miracle
‘Talkhis al-Bayan fi Majazat al-Quran’ is a Shia Quran interpretation that has a new approach to Quran interpretation. In this work, Sayed Radhi used his genius and vast knowledge to write the first book on the Quran’s metaphors. The one-volume book is about interpretation of the verses, words, terms and metaphorical expressions in the Holy Book.
It has been considered as one of the main scholarly works written in the 4th Hijri century. It mentions the metaphors and ironies in verses and offers examples from Arabic poems.
The book highlights different aspects of the Quran’s rhetorical miracle and eloquence. Eloquence means being fluent and persuasive in speaking or writing and considering the addressee’s status.
Who Was Sayed Radhi?
Mohammad Ibn Hussein ibn Musa, known as Sayed Radhi (969-1015) was a Shia scholars and a brother of Sayed Mortadha. He held several major positions, including judgment and Hajj mission chief during the rule of the Buyid dynasty. He wrote books in theology and Quran interpretation as well as a book of poetry. His main work was collecting Nahj al-Balagha. He also established a school which some say was the first school for teaching religious sciences.
He studied with Muhammad Tabari Maliki, Abu Abdullah Jurjani, Faqih Hanafi, Qadhi Abdul Jabbar, and Akfani Qadhi.
In his Talkhis al-Bayan fi Majazat al-Quran, Sayed Radhi mentions different views based on the seven Qara’at, then discussed meanings of words and offers his views about moral issues. He also cites Hadith in talking about the Quran’s rhetorical aspects.
The first subject mentioned in the book is about verse 7 of Surah Al-Baqarah: “Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and ears; their sight is dimmed and for them is a great punishment,” saying a ‘seal’ is a metaphor because the hypocrite move their eyes and see things but do not learn the required lesson from it.
The last subject is about verses 1 to 3 of Surah Al-Inshirah “Have We not expanded your chest for you (Prophet Muhammad), and relieved you of your burden that weighed down your back?”
Sayid RAdhi says the phrase burden that weighed down your back is a metaphor for the difficulties and hardships the Hoy Prophet (PBUH) went through during his mission.
The book has been considered an importance source by the Quran interpreters after Sayed Radhi and they have used its content in their works.
