The phenomenon of deviation in demonstrative pronouns - examples from the Holy Qur’an - a grammatical and rhetorical study

Abstract

This study examines one aspect of linguistic deviation (al-ʿudūl) in the Holy Qur’an, focusing specifically on the phenomenon of deviation in demonstrative pronouns, as illustrated through selected Qur’anic examples. It aims to identify the purposes behind this phenomenon and uncover the rhetorical wisdom in the Qur’anic usage of such deviations. Undoubtedly, these linguistic shifts did not occur arbitrarily or by coincidence; rather, they were deliberate, intended to reveal aesthetic dimensions and rhetorical subtleties reflected in the structure and expression of the Qur’anic text.

In principle, the demonstrative pronoun should correspond with the entity it refers to. Thus, any departure from this norm invites reflection and inquiry. Nothing in the Qur’an appears ambiguous or inconsistent without underlying meanings and indications, manifested in its wording and composition—even if such subtleties may elude even the most learned scholars.

Based on this premise, the researcher seeks to reveal the rhetorical nuances resulting from these deviations in demonstrative pronouns—such as expressing proximity or distance, magnification or diminution, and the intentional reference to the mentioned entity—drawing upon sources in Qur’anic exegesis, Arabic linguistics, and related disciplines.