رَبَّ هَٰذَا الْبَيْتِ
The Lord of this House. (106:3)
Rabba is the object of yaʿbudū. The demonstrative hādhā points to a particular House already significant to the audience. The possessive relation identifies the one who is to be worshipped in terms immediately intelligible to Quraysh.
The rhetorical force is not merely the dictionary meaning of “this.” It arises from demonstrative reference together with the audience’s recognition of the House and its sanctity.
Opening interactive controls...
Supplementary Practice 21: Comparative Rhetorical Study of Sūrat Quraysh and al-Māʿūn
رَبَّ هَٰذَا الْبَيْتِ
The Lord of this House. (106:3)
Rabba is the object of yaʿbudū. The demonstrative hādhā points to a particular House already significant to the audience. The possessive relation identifies the one who is to be worshipped in terms immediately intelligible to Quraysh.
The rhetorical force is not merely the dictionary meaning of “this.” It arises from demonstrative reference together with the audience’s recognition of the House and its sanctity.