LessonsQur’anic Ellipsis (Ḥadhf): Implied Words, Relationships and Rhetorical BrevityQuiz

“Wa-sʾal al-qaryah”
“Ask the town.” (Yūsuf 12:82)

The people of the town are meant: the place stands for its inhabitants.

“ʿAlā mulki Sulaymān”
“Concerning Solomon’s dominion.” (al-Baqarah 2:102, excerpt)

An implied reference to the period of Solomon’s reign helps explain how the expression is used.

“Waʿadtanā ʿalā rusulik”
“What You promised through Your messengers.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:194, excerpt)

Here the promise is understood in relation to the messengers through whom it was conveyed. The three cases illustrate how a place, a reign or a messenger can point to understood persons, periods or relations.

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Implied people and periods: town, kingdom and era

Qur’anic Ellipsis (Ḥadhf): Implied Words, Relationships and Rhetorical Brevity

“Wa-sʾal al-qaryah”
“Ask the town.” (Yūsuf 12:82)

The people of the town are meant: the place stands for its inhabitants.

“ʿAlā mulki Sulaymān”
“Concerning Solomon’s dominion.” (al-Baqarah 2:102, excerpt)

An implied reference to the period of Solomon’s reign helps explain how the expression is used.

“Waʿadtanā ʿalā rusulik”
“What You promised through Your messengers.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:194, excerpt)

Here the promise is understood in relation to the messengers through whom it was conveyed. The three cases illustrate how a place, a reign or a messenger can point to understood persons, periods or relations.