Abstract

Introduction: The Theory of Nadhm (the Theory of Discipline) is a significant theory in Arabic linguistic studies, initially comprehensively stated by Abdul-Qahir al-Jurjani. Ibn Maytham Bahrani, a prominent theologian and literary scholar from Bahrain, succinctly articulated his rhetorical perspectives in the introduction to his commentary on Nahj al-Balagha. This introduction is characterized by a distinctive writing style and the systematic grouping and categorization of rhetorical issues, which first sets it apart from subsequent rhetorical works. Ibn Maytham al-Bahrani's exegesis of Nahj al-Balagha by Imam Ali (PBUH) is particularly noteworthy for its rhetorical significance among the numerous comments available. Numerous subsequent commentators of Nahj al-Balagha have referenced and utilized his work in their assessments. Although Ibn Maytham is a jurist, theologian, and Shiite mystic, he has expanded his commentary on Nahj al-Balagha to include not only theological and mystical discourse but also rhetorical subjects. He deemed a comprehension of rhetoric crucial for grasping the words of the Imam (PBUH), as he thought Imam Ali’s discourse to be infused with eloquence and rhetorical prowess. A significant segment of Ibn Maytham’s comprehensive introduction focuses on themes of eloquence and rhetoric, and an analysis of the style and organization of this particular piece is the subject of the current debate. Notwithstanding the numerous works on Ibn Maytham's commentary on Nahj al-Balagha, there exists no article, thesis, or book that particularly addresses the impact of al-Jurjani's Theory of Nadhm on the rhetorical segment of the introduction to this work. The majority of current scholarship has concentrated on its theological, jurisprudential, philosophical, logical, historical, and lexical dimensions. Abdul Munim Al-Sayyid Al-Shahat Rizq defended a Master's thesis entitled "The Rhetorical Issues between Ibn Maytham al-Bahrani and Ibn Sinan al-Khafaaji" at Al-Azhar University in 1421 AH / 2000 CE. This thesis juxtaposes the methodologies and stylistic approaches of these two scholars, examining rhetorical concerns such as ma'ani (semantics), bayan (expression), badi' (embellishment), their classifications, and the notion of nadhm (composition) along with its essence, elucidating both the parallels and divergences in their perspectives. This comprehensive analysis aims to address the deficiency in current scholarship by examining the potential influence of al-Jurjani’s theories on Ibn Maytham’s rhetorical framework, specifically on stylistic and compositional subtleties.
Methodology: This study used an analytical-descriptive methodology to examine the research problem.
Findings: Al-Jurjani characterizes nadhm (composition) as the interrelation of words with one another (Al-Jurjani, 1395: 4, Introduction). Essentially, a solitary word possesses no intrinsic superiority when examined in isolation and devoid of its syntagmatic relationships with neighboring words across diverse contexts. Nadhm is merely the deliberate coordination of syntactic meanings and their grammatical principles inside discourse. He does not regard speech evaluation as merely concentrating on the word or its meaning. According to Al-Jurjani, a word possesses equal worth, irrespective of its intrinsic musicality or tone, until it is included into a composition; only at that point can it be evaluated as superior or inferior to another word. Ibn Maytham Al-Bahrani, in explicating the intricate interrelation of phrases, cites diverse forms of badi‘ (rhetorical embellishments) and nazm (composition), regarding them as the most sophisticated and exemplary techniques for structuring discourse. He categorizes nazm into 21 distinct types, which encompass: mutabaqah (antithesis), muqabalah (counterpoint), muzawajah (conjugation), i‘tiradh (parenthesis), iltifat (apostrophe), iqtibas (quotation), talmih (allusion), irsal al-mathalayn (proverbial expressions), laf wa nashr (envelopment), ta‘did (enumeration), tansiq al-sifat (ordering of attributes), iham (ambiguity), mura‘at al-nazir (associative parallelism), mad’h muwajjah (praise with multiple interpretations), muhtamal al-diddayn (double entendre), tajahul al-‘arif (feigned ignorance), su’al wa jawab (question and answer), hazf (ellipsis), ta‘ajjub (expression of wonder), ghuluw fi al-sifah (hyperbolic description), and husn al-ta‘lil (rhetorical justification).
Discussion and Conclusion: Ibn Maytham and Abdul-Qahir al-Jurjani both highlighted the relationship between words and meaning, saying that meaning emanates from the mind. They posited that words and meanings amalgamate to create structures associated with grammatical interpretations, with each word's place being contingent upon the meanings of the preceding and following words in a sentence. Moreover, they posited that aesthetic judgment is dictated by intuition, which they contended is linked to meanings originating from the intellect. These findings and the data offered indicate that Ibn Maytham's rhetorical viewpoint, especially about the nature of writing and sentence construction, was shaped by Abdul-Qahir al-Jurjani. He also utilized Fakhr al-Din al-Razi’s approach of categorizing nadhm, which was influenced by al-Jurjani’s philosophy. Consequently, it may be inferred that, similar to al-Zamakhshari and Fakhr al-Razi, Ibn Maytham extensively employed al-Jurjani’s Theory of Ndhzm in expressing his rhetorical perspectives, illustrating the manifestations of this theory in the eloquence and rhetorical brilliance of Imam Ali’s (PBUH) discourse.