Revisiting the Linguistic Inimitability of the Qur'an: A Systematic Review

Radwan Muhammad Said Eazolli; Mohammed Aburahme; Majdi Shhadat; Abeer Al-Shbeil

doi:10.32350/jitc.162.14

Authors

Radwan Muhammad Said Eazolli Al-Balqa Applied University , Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3799-2755
Mohammed Aburahme Applied Science Private University , Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4896-8219
Majdi Shhadat Al-Balqa Applied University , Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5837-2742
Abeer Al-Shbeil Al-Balqa Applied University , Jordan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3879-5593

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.162.14

Keywords:

Iʿjāz al-Qurʾān, linguistic inimitability, Qur'anic linguistics, rhetorical analysis, systematic review

Abstract

This study critically and systematically analyzes the linguistic inimitability of the Qur'an through a cross-disciplinary examination of modern literature on this topic. In this work, 39 pieces of scholarly literature published between the years 2000 and 2025 AD on the linguistic inimitability of the Qur'an are systematically reviewed. The major need that this study fulfills is the lack of a comprehensive synthesis of the research on iʿjāz (the inimitability of the Qur'an) in the theological, linguistic, computational, and hermeneutic directions, which makes the available studies fragmented and methodologically inconsistent. This review aims to do this by systematically categorizing the different methodological approaches and theoretical contributions available in the literature. The study identifies six thematic organizations: structural and stylistic aspects, semantic novelty, computational validation, hermeneutic enrichment, translation issues, and contextual/political interpretations. The results showed that the persuasive qualities of the Qur'an are its syntactic clarity, rhythmic qualities, and cognitive richness, qualities that, as the reviewed literature indicates, cannot be imitated or translated. Moreover, it is linguistically unique in a significant way; its aesthetic value overlaps with its theological value in such a way that it not only becomes an excellent work of literature but is also perceived as the word of God. Based on the research results, the conceptualization of iʿjāz al-Qur'ān is multidimensional. Hence, it is proposed that integrated research be done on the linguistic, religio-spiritual, and sociopolitical aspects of it in the future.

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