The Permissibility of the Accusative in Expressions of Praise in the Qur’an 10.35781/1637-000-146-004

Abstract

Abstract This research addresses the issue of the permissibility of the accusative in expressions of praise in the Qur’an, treating it as a grammatical point of contention between the Basran and Kufan schools of Arabic grammar. This issue becomes particularly evident in the syntactic analysis of certain Qur’anic verses that diverge from commonly recognized grammatical patterns. The study focuses on analyzing the instances of the accusative case in the verses: “And those who are patient” [Al-Baqarah: 177] and “And those who establish prayer” [An-Nisa: 162]. This analysis is achieved through an examination of the opinions of grammarians and exegetes, and by tracing the evidence from the Holy Quran, its various readings, and classical Arabic poetry. The study discusses the different grammatical interpretations and their rhetorical purposes, employing established research methodologies such as the inductive method for collecting texts and evidence, the analytical method for studying the grammatical interpretations and their rhetorical implications, and the comparative method for comparing the views of the Basran and Kufan schools, explaining the reasons for their disagreement, and determining the preferred interpretation. This research aimed to establish the permissibility of using the accusative case for praise in the Holy Quran from both grammatical and rhetorical perspectives. It also sought to clarify the differences among grammarians in interpreting the verses containing these expressions, ultimately favoring the most sound interpretation based on linguistic and archaic evidence. Furthermore, it addressed concerns raised regarding the presence of grammatical errors in some Quranic passages. The research concluded with several key findings, including: 1. The permissibility of using the accusative case for praise in the Holy Quran, as it represents a well-established and eloquent Arabic stylistic feature. 2.The preference for the Basran grammatical position in explaining this construction, due to the strength of their grammatical, transmitted, and rhetorical evidence. 3.The necessity of considering the Qur’anic text as a primary authority governing grammatical rules, rather than subjecting it to them. 4.The intentional nature of syntactic variation in these contexts for rhetorical purposes, including highlighting the virtue of patience and prayer and emphasizing their elevated status. 5. The invalidity of the claim that grammatical irregularity (lahn) occurs in the Noble Qur'ain, as such a claim contradicts mass transmission (tawātur) and the scholarly consensus. Keywords: The accusative case in praise, Qur’anic grammar, grammatical disagreement, rhetorical miracle.