The rule of "Proportion" in Nöldeke’s theory of the sequence of revelation; Quiddity and Functions

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

1 Associated Professor of Quranic Studies and Hadith, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Teachings, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Quranic Studies and Hadith, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Teachings, Hakim Sabzevāri University, Sabzevār, Iran

Abstract
“Tanā sub” (The proportion of the verses or suras) is one of the most important linguistic and literary rules that plays a role in various sciences, especially Qur`anic sciences. Among its applications in the Qur'anic sciences is the discovery of the sequence of the revelation of verses and suras, which Noldeke uses extensively in his theory of the sequence of revelation. This paper intends to explain and evaluate the quality and position of using this tool in the above-mentioned theory by a descriptive-analytic method. The study of the theory from this perspective shows that proportion has been used frequently and as a widely used criterion in this theory, and Noldeke benefited greatly from it in discovering the sequence of the revelation of verses and suras. However, some cases of using this tool in the mentioned theory, like establishing a proportion among different suras are not logical and accurate, and this tool can not be helpful in such cases solely.


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