Taʾkīd al-madḥ bi-mā yushbih al-dhamm presents praise through wording that initially seems to introduce a fault.
«وَلَا عَيْبَ فِيهِمْ غَيْرَ أَنَّ سُيُوفَهُمْ بِهِنَّ فُلُولٌ مِنْ قِرَاعِ الْكَتَائِبِ»
“They have no fault, except that their swords bear notches from clashing with armies.”
The assertion “no fault” is followed by an exception that seems to promise a defect. Instead, the notched swords testify to courage and prolonged battle. Expected criticism turns into further praise.
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ʿIlm al-Badīʿ: Semantic Embellishments, Part II
Taʾkīd al-madḥ bi-mā yushbih al-dhamm presents praise through wording that initially seems to introduce a fault.
«وَلَا عَيْبَ فِيهِمْ غَيْرَ أَنَّ سُيُوفَهُمْ بِهِنَّ فُلُولٌ مِنْ قِرَاعِ الْكَتَائِبِ»
“They have no fault, except that their swords bear notches from clashing with armies.”
The assertion “no fault” is followed by an exception that seems to promise a defect. Instead, the notched swords testify to courage and prolonged battle. Expected criticism turns into further praise.