LessonsChapter Eight: Ijaz, Itnab and Musawah — Brevity, Amplification and BalanceQuiz

كُلُّ مَا يَجُولُ فِي الصَّدْرِ مِنَ الْمَعَانِي، يُمْكِنُ أَنْ يُعَبَّرَ عَنْهُ بِثَلَاثِ طُرُقٍ
The meanings that arise in the mind can be expressed in three ways.

In musawah, wording matches ordinary expectations for conveying the meaning. In ijaz, fewer words convey the complete sense. In itnab, additional language serves a genuine purpose. The customary baseline is not an arithmetic word limit; it is how competent speakers ordinarily express that content.

Shortness is not a virtue when necessary meaning is lost. Length does not count as effective itnab when it merely burdens the listener.

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The shared criterion of the three styles

Chapter Eight: Ijaz, Itnab and Musawah — Brevity, Amplification and Balance

كُلُّ مَا يَجُولُ فِي الصَّدْرِ مِنَ الْمَعَانِي، يُمْكِنُ أَنْ يُعَبَّرَ عَنْهُ بِثَلَاثِ طُرُقٍ
The meanings that arise in the mind can be expressed in three ways.

In musawah, wording matches ordinary expectations for conveying the meaning. In ijaz, fewer words convey the complete sense. In itnab, additional language serves a genuine purpose. The customary baseline is not an arithmetic word limit; it is how competent speakers ordinarily express that content.

Shortness is not a virtue when necessary meaning is lost. Length does not count as effective itnab when it merely burdens the listener.