The Terminology of I’tilāf in Arabic Rhetoric: Its Concept and Rhetorical Applications

علم بلاغت میں مصطلحات ائتلاف مفہوم اور بلاغی تطبیقات

Abstract

The rhetorical forms of I’tilāf in the science of ʿIlm al-Badīʿ refer to the harmony and correspondence among words, meanings, and poetic metre. Classical Arabic rhetoricians have discussed various aspects of this subject, including harmony among words, between words and meanings, between words and metre, and between meaning and metre. Similarly, I’tilāf al-Fāṣilah and I’tilāf maʿa al-Ikhtilāf highlight the coherence and semantic relationships among the components of discourse. Qudāmah ibn Jaʿfar regarded any reduction, addition, or alteration of meaning caused by adherence to poetic metre as a rhetorical defect. In contrast, Ḥāzim al-Qarṭājannī explored the relationship between poetic metre and subject matter, explaining that different Arabic poetic metres, owing to their distinct phonetic qualities, may be more suitable for particular poetic purposes. Other rhetoricians also addressed these concepts in their works, although differences exist in their terminology and classifications. These discussions demonstrate that poetic beauty lies not merely in elegant wording or metrical correctness, but also in the harmony among words, meanings, metre, and communicative purpose. The study of these forms contributes to a deeper understanding of classical Arabic rhetoric and the principles of literary criticism.