The Means and Eloquence in Explaining the Brief Eloquence

By the scholar Sheikh Muhammad al-Tahir Ibn Ashur

Author's name: Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Fawzan

Introduction by the commentator

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and peace be upon the most honorable of prophets and messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions.

Now then...

This is an explanation that I have written on the book “Al-Balaghah” by the scholar Sheikh Muhammad al-Tahir Ibn Ashur, who died in 1393 AH. I have presented its texts in an easy style and the expression of the Qur’an and Sunnah, as well as the proverbs and poetry it contains, is clear. I have explained its examples and strived to edit it as much as possible.

I followed the following approach in explaining it:

1 - I introduced this explanation with a brief biography of the author, the eminent Sheikh: Muhammad al-Tahir Ibn Ashur. Then I talked about the importance of the science of rhetoric and the need for the student of knowledge to be familiar with its issues, even if only briefly. Then I talked about this book, “A Brief Explanation of Rhetoric,” its benefit and its status among the books of rhetoric and the most important prominent features in it.

2 - Explaining Ibn Ashour’s words in an easy style and clear expression, to understand the issues of rhetoric, its rules and the examples it requires. I have benefited from Ibn Ashour’s comments in some places, and included them within the explanation of the text, and it has been referred to, and it is very little.

3 - Paying attention to the eloquence of the Qur’an and being keen to highlight the secrets of Qur’anic expression and understanding the characteristics of eloquence within it, and adding some examples from the Qur’an to clarify this precious purpose. I hope that this is not a digression or a departure from the author’s approach.

The Means and Eloquence in Explaining the Brief Eloquence

4 - Taking care of the verses of poetry that Ibn Ashur cited by attributing them to their sources, and attributing what was not attributed to its author - if possible - and explaining their strange meanings, and clarifying their meanings. The book contains verses that do not exist in books of rhetoric; therefore, I needed to refer to poetry collections and books of literature that deal with them; so I reviewed them and documented them, and if there was a difference, I pointed it out as much as I could.

5- Adding some examples that have an effect in clarifying the rhetorical rule and enriching the scientific material. It may be represented by examples that are not accepted in all aspects, or the scholars’ viewpoints differ in their confirmation, and this does not affect it, because one of the principles of jurisprudence is that the example is not objected to, because what is intended from it is to clarify the rule, so the assumption and absolute possibility are sufficient in it (1).

6 - I have provided brief biographies of the famous poets, writers, and others mentioned in the book, and I have included that in the book’s margin.

7- The text has been fully punctuated to facilitate its reading for the student of rhetoric, and to protect it from errors in meaning and grammar. - I did not go beyond attributing information to its sources, for fear of burdening the book with footnotes. Rather, I was satisfied with attributing what was important from the quotations and the like. I also attributed it to some academic journals in order to guide the reader that this topic has been researched.

I also referred to contemporary works because of their easy definitions, many examples, and clarity.

9 - I have included in this explanation several sentences scattered throughout its chapters, which are like rhetorical rules that can be benefited from. Perhaps the honorable reader will take his time to reflect on them in order to obtain them.

10 - I do not claim perfection or even closeness to it in this explanation. I may have understood Ibn Ashur’s words in some places in a way other than their intended meaning, or interpreted them in a way other than his intended meaning. However, it is sufficient for me that I have made an effort to edit it. Therefore, I hope that the honorable reader - especially the specialist - will direct to me any comments he sees.

11 - Reliance on the old edition that was printed in the Scientific Library in Tunis in approximately the year (1351 AH), and it was photographed by Dar Adwaa Al-Salaf in the year (1426 AH), so it is:

In my opinion, this is one of the best editions of this book - as is my custom in explaining texts - after making an effort, and perhaps God has not made it possible for me to obtain a handwritten copy of it.

This, and my relationship with rhetoric arose and my desire for it became apparent since studying it at the Scientific Institute, then at the College of Sharia in Riyadh, then God Almighty granted me success in teaching it from the year (1394) for several years at the Scientific Institute, and in some scientific courses, then benefiting from it in some of the explanations of the hadith that God has bestowed upon me. I do not consider myself among its masters nor specialists in it whom God Almighty has blessed with broad knowledge, strength of expression and beauty of style, and that is due to shortcomings and other things, and with my wealth and the scarcity of my merchandise, but I wanted to contribute my two cents among the buckets, and strike with my arrow in this field, participating with researchers in contributing to serving rhetoric through explaining this “Summary”, and being keen to bring it closer to students and make it beloved to them, and I named it: The Means and Rhetoric in Explaining the Summary of Rhetoric (2).

If you, dear reader, see in this explanation any weakness in style, or a flaw in the application of the rule, or a misunderstanding, then I acknowledge my shortcomings and negligence, and I do not exempt myself from error and slip, nor do I protect my words from delusion and error.

I ask God to make this effort beneficial; He is All-Hearing, All-Near, and All-Answering.

And his books

Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Fawzan