Towards a Rhetorical Criticism of the Qur'an

Abstract

This article represents a tentative and preliminary investigation of the possibilities inherent in a new rhetorical criticism of the Qur'an, i.e. one that does not confine itself to any single tradition but is willing to draw on whatever resources may be deemed useful. It begins by showing why the Qur'an is particularly suited to a rhetorical approach, and goes on to discuss the scope and definition of rhetoric, and to give an overview of its conceptual development in both the Graeco-Roman and Arab-Islamic traditions. It then looks at the special relationship between religion and rhetoric and makes some comparative observations about the Bible and the Qur'an as potential objects of rhetorical criticism. Finally, there is a brief look at selected methodological issues which have particular relevance for the Qur'an: chronology, synchronicity versus diachronicity, the exegetical tradition and the Qur'anic stories (qiṣaṣ). While this article is mainly concerned with theoretical issues, it is to be hoped that some (including this author) will be encouraged to undertake the work of actually applying some of the principles of rhetorical criticism to the Qur'an in a more holistic way than has hitherto been attempted.