Applications and Functions of Iltifāt (Change in Addressee) Technique in the Qur'an

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Abstract

In this research, ‘Abd al-Ḥalīm examines the functions and applications of iltifāt technique in the Qur’ān. First, he points out the viewpoints of some orientalists like Noldke, Watt-Bell, and Wansbrough concerning the false impression about this technique. Then, he discusses about the meaning of iltifāt, the equivalent of iltifāt, serious attention to iltifāt in books of rhetoric, general and particular types of iltifāt, and the status of iltifāt in science of rhetoric; and, along the art of iltifāt, he has enumerated and analyzed its comparative features, including grammatical change in line with the rhetorical objectives. ‘Abd al-Ḥalīm believes that although some of these features do not fit into the category of iltifāt, they are more or less connected to the art of iltifāt and thus points out in studying particular examples where these changes occur and tries to justify and explain them. Finally, he touches upon the general function of iltifāt and the features related to it. ‘Abd al-Ḥalīm hopes all of these discourses would clarify this style feature and explain its application in the Qur’ān.