The Rhetorical Function of the Qur’an According to Ustaz al-Nursi: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This study examines the rhetorical function of the Holy Qur’an according to Bediuzzaman Said Nursi by exploring his vision of Qur’anic rhetoric as a means of guidance, reform, and the construction of both the individual and society, rather than merely an aesthetic or rhetorical device. The research problem lies in the scarcity of analytical studies that investigate the rhetorical function in Nursi’s thought and reveal its educational, psychological, faith-based, and social dimensions, despite the fact that Nursi presented an integrated conception of Qur’anic rhetoric grounded in linking eloquence with guidance, reason with the heart, and meaning with human reality. The study aims to clarify the concept of the rhetorical function in the Qur’an according to Nursi, analyze its cognitive and reformative dimensions, and uncover its role in strengthening faith and shaping human consciousness.

The study adopts the inductive method by tracing the texts and passages in which Nursi discussed Qur’anic rhetoric throughout his epistles and writings, with the aim of collecting and comprehending the relevant scholarly material. It also employs the analytical method to analyze these texts and identify the rhetorical implications and the educational, psychological, and intellectual functions that Nursi sought to highlight through Qur’anic discourse, while connecting them to human and social contexts.

The study arrives at several findings, the most significant of which are that Nursi viewed Qur’anic rhetoric as a functional discourse aimed at reviving both the heart and the intellect, and that the rhetorical function in the Qur’an, according to him, transcends the limits of rhetorical influence to become a means of spiritual purification and civilizational reform. The study also demonstrates that Nursi successfully employed Qur’anic rhetoric in addressing the intellectual and psychological crises of modern humanity through a discourse that combines rational persuasion with emotional impact.

The study recommends expanding Qur’anic studies related to rhetorical functions within modern exegetical heritage, with greater attention given to Nursi’s approach in linking Qur’anic rhetoric to contemporary human issues. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to renewing the understanding of Qur’anic rhetoric as a means of reform and human development, while highlighting the civilizational and educational dimensions in Nursi’s interpretation of the Holy Qur’an.