Wansbrough on the "qul" formula in the Quran: a critical study

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Tarbiat Modares university

2 Professor at Tarbiat Modares

3 Tarbiat Modares University

10.30512/kq.2024.20674.3760

Abstract

According to Wansbrough , the text of the Qur'an is composed by various literary conventions. In this regard, Wansbrough counts three different formula that are used to introduce major themes of the Quran, one of these formulas is apodictic formula, a structure that provides a very strong imperative such as those ascribed to God. Wansbrough considers "qul" as the most frequent example of the apodictic formula in the Qur'an and analyzes it. He names four different functions for the "qul" structure in the Quran, while the most important one, he assumes, is the beginning of phrases that cannot be attributed to God. On this basis, Wansbrough suggests the possibility that "qul" was a later interpolation into the text where required, particularly in the positions that cannot be attributed to God, in order to replace the prophetical expressions with the direct speech of God. In this article, after surveying different forms and functions of the "qul" structure in the Qur'an, some explanations for this structure are proposed, the main of which is to create a dialogical atmosphere and forestall the question, and Wansbrough's view is assessed.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Ketab-E-Qayyem

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 17 June 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 September 2023
  • Revise Date: 17 February 2024
  • Accept Date: 20 April 2024

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