LessonsTawjīh, Serious Intent in Jest, Feigned Ignorance, Qawl bi-l-Mūjib and IṭrādQuiz

«سوق المعلوم مساق غيره لنكتة»
Presenting something known as though it were not known, for a rhetorical purpose.

This is often called tajāhul al-ʿārif. The speaker knows the fact, but frames it in the manner of an inquiry or uncertainty, to express wonder, praise, criticism, rebuke, astonishment, or another literary purpose.

Not every question qualifies. Some questions genuinely request information. The figure requires both underlying knowledge and a recognizable communicative reason for the simulated inquiry.

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The nature of feigned ignorance

Tawjīh, Serious Intent in Jest, Feigned Ignorance, Qawl bi-l-Mūjib and Iṭrād

«سوق المعلوم مساق غيره لنكتة»
Presenting something known as though it were not known, for a rhetorical purpose.

This is often called tajāhul al-ʿārif. The speaker knows the fact, but frames it in the manner of an inquiry or uncertainty, to express wonder, praise, criticism, rebuke, astonishment, or another literary purpose.

Not every question qualifies. Some questions genuinely request information. The figure requires both underlying knowledge and a recognizable communicative reason for the simulated inquiry.