Stylistic Choice in Sūrat al-ʿAṣr and Sūrat al-Naṣr

A Study of the Impact of the Meccan and Medinan Context on the Construction of Qur’anic Expression

Abstract

This research examines stylistic choice in the two Qur’anic surahs of al-ʿAsr and al-Nasr, focusing on the impact of the Makkan and Madinan contexts on Qur’anic expression. It seeks to explore the extent to which stylistic choices in the two surahs correspond to their respective contexts and circumstances of revelation, while highlighting what these choices reveal about the distinctive features of Qur’anic expression and its precision in balancing form and meaning. The study adopts an analytical stylistic approach to identify and examine the expressive phenomena in the two surahs from rhetorical and exegetical perspectives. It also employs a comparative approach to Makkan and Madinan discourse to reveal the impact of contextual differences on stylistic choice. The research first addresses the concept of stylistic choice and its relationship to rhetorical and stylistic studies, followed by an examination of the major characteristics of Makkan and Madinan discourse. It then analyzes the stylistic choices in Surah al-ʿAsr, focusing on the oath, emphasis and exception, and phonetic and rhythmic structure, in relation to the Makkan context. Surah al-Nasr is subsequently examined through the use of the past tense in expressing victory and conquest, the transition from declarative to imperative discourse, collective expressions, and the influence of the Madinan context. The study demonstrates that stylistic choice in the two surahs is neither merely formal nor incidental but closely aligned with context and communicative purpose. Surah al-ʿAsr employs emphasis, brevity, restriction, and warning, consistent with Makkan discourse and its focus on establishing the foundations of faith and affirming fundamental truths. In contrast, Surah al-Nasr presents the fulfillment of the divine promise, the collective spread of the Islamic message, and the Prophet’s direction to glorify and praise his Lord and seek His forgiveness, consistent with the Madinan context of empowerment and the completion of the mission. The research concludes that contextual differences shaped lexical, syntactic, phonetic, and semantic choices while preserving the unity of Qur’anic rhetorical structure.