Oaths in the Qur'ān: Bint al-Sh-āti s Literary Contribution

Abstract Oaths (aqsam, sing. qasam) are one of the most widespread and effective ways of drawing attention or eliciting trust in interpersonal and intercultural communications. As a theological and literary device, the Qur'an has used oaths frequently with a view to appeal to its target audience. However, the most popular Muslim explanations for the Qur'an's use of oaths, apparently, are theological, namely, that they either point to the existence and majesty of the Creator (bari'/sani'), the object's utility and benefit (manfa'ah), or its virtue and glorification (fadilah/ta'zim). Although Muslims have treated the literary aspects of the Qur'an exhaustively, the literary implications of oaths seem not to have been explored rigorously. Not a comparative study, this essay will explore the "other" least known theories and explanations of Bint al-Shati' (d. 1420/1999) on oaths, while also pointing out the Qur'an's effective use of such oaths. Unlike most Muslim scholars, Bint al-Shati' believes that most of the Qur'an's oaths are meant for "artistic illustration" (al-bayan al-fanni). She devotes many pages to elaborating upon this in her al-Tafsir al-Bayani as well as in her al-l'jaz al-Bayani. Using Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911/1505) to epitomize the traditional approach, I hope to provide explanation to a part of what appears in his al-Itqan. As fascinating literary explanations, this study will elaborate them and highlight their communicative significance. "Fala uqsimu bi-mawaqi' al-nujum, wa innahu la-qasamun law ta'lamuna 'azim, innahu la Qur'anun karim. " "And I swear by the positions of the stars; and it is, indeed, a mighty oath, if only you knew. Truly, it is a noble Qur'an" (Qur'an 56: 75-77). I Introduction Taking the Qur'an's statements seriously that it is a guidance for humanity (hudan li 'l-nas, Qur'an 2: 185; yahdi li 'llati hiya aqwam, Qur'an 17: 9), one would expect that it would have ensured that its contents were heard and appreciated by the widest possible segment of humanity. Has the Qur'an, therefore, deliberately employed any particular communication methods to guarantee the effectiveness of its messages? Some Muslim scholars argue that it has, pointing to such generally effective methods as the use of beautiful expressions, a persuasive tone, and appeals to the intellect. Others point to several styles of expression, including repetition, provision of examples, and employment of elements of emphasis. Such techniques are only a few of the topics usually listed by scholars under "bada'i' or badi' al-Qur'an" (good style/metaphors/ rhetoric of the Qur'an). 1 Yet another way is simply to draw attention to the messages' contents by relying on the creative use of oaths (aqsam; sing. qasam), a method that the Qur'an employs quite frequently as a theological and literary device. However, the most popular Muslim explanations for the Qur'an's use of oaths are theological. Although Muslims have treated literary aspects of the Qur'an exhaustively, the literary implications of oaths have not been rigorously explored. These are what I consider the "other explanations. " Oaths are one of the most widespread and effective ways of drawing attention in interpersonal or intercultural communications. The Arabs, being the Qur'an's immediate audience, were familiar with oaths and recognized their communicative importance. So perhaps the Qur'an used them frequently so as to appeal to its target audience. In addition, since oaths are widely used in many societies not only to draw attention to the importance and sacredness of the objects mentioned therein, but also to give credence and significance to the message and elicit more confidence, their use in the Qur'an can be said to be strategic. Different cultures, however, differ greatly in their use of oaths. Within each culture, a number of important factors (e.g., cultural background, significance of the message, and eagerness on the part of its conveyor/sender to influence the listeners/audience) dictate the frequency and the types of oaths to be employed. …