Analysis of Al-Jahiz’s Contribution to the Early Formation of Balaghah: A Classical Arabic Rhetorical Perspective

This study aims to analyze the contributions of Al-Jahiz in the early formation of the science of Arabic rhetoric through his work Al-Bayān wa al-Tabyīn. The study focuses on identifying the rhetorical elements found in the work and analyzing the foundational rhetorical principles embedded in Al-Jahiz’s thought. A qualitative approach based on content analysis was employed by examining the text of Al-Bayān wa al-Tabyīn along with several classical and modern rhetorical works as supporting sources. The data were analyzed thematically according to the framework of classical Arabic rhetoric, which emphasizes the relationship between wording and meaning, the suitability of communicative context, and the effectiveness of language delivery. The findings reveal that Al-Jahiz introduced various rhetorical elements such as al-bayān, al-tashbīh, al-isti‘ārah, and al-kināyah, which later became essential foundations in the development of Arabic rhetoric. In addition, the study found that he emphasized the principles of clarity of meaning, the suitability of language according to audience, and the influence of language on the emotions and thoughts of listeners. This study demonstrates that Al-Jahiz’s ideas played a significant role in the early formation of the epistemology of Arabic rhetoric before the discipline was systematically developed by later scholars such as Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani and Al-Sakkaki.

Al-Jahiz, Al-Bayān wa al-Tabyīn, Arabic rhetoric, Arabic rhetoric studies, language communication

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