وَأَثْنَى عَنْهُمْ مُثْنِيًا
He turned away from them while praising them.
Athnā ʿanhum here means turning away or departing from them, whereas muthniyan indicates praising them. The similar sounds point to different functions and meanings in this context.
The brief phrase combines physical departure with spoken appreciation. Its wordplay matters because the sounds echo even while the senses diverge.
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The Ṣanʿāʾ Maqāmah: Worldly Attachment, the Audience’s Gifts, and a Secret Pursuit
وَأَثْنَى عَنْهُمْ مُثْنِيًا
He turned away from them while praising them.
Athnā ʿanhum here means turning away or departing from them, whereas muthniyan indicates praising them. The similar sounds point to different functions and meanings in this context.
The brief phrase combines physical departure with spoken appreciation. Its wordplay matters because the sounds echo even while the senses diverge.