Emphasis through Extra Particles: The Issue of Additional Elements in the Holy Qur’an in the Light of Tafsīr Abī al-Su‘ūd – The Case of the Redundant Particle Lā as a Model

Abstract

This research explores the phenomenon of emphasis through additional particles (al-tawkīd bi-l-zawāʾid) in the Holy Qur’an, with particular attention to the particle lā, which is 70 often considered redundant, as interpreted in Tafsīr Abī al-Suʿūd. The study investigates whether these particles should be viewed as superfluous elements or as purposeful rhetorical instruments that enrich the eloquence and expressive power of the Qur’anic discourse. By drawing upon the exegetical perspectives of Abū al-Suʿūd in conjunction with classical sources on Qur’anic sciences, Arabic linguistics, and rhetoric, this work sheds light on the semantic and stylistic functions of lā in selected verses. The findings reveal that such particles are not mere insertions but serve as emphatic devices that strengthen meaning, maintain rhythmic balance, and enhance the aesthetic quality of the Qur’an’s language. Positioning Abū al-Suʿūd’s views within the wider exegetical and linguistic tradition, the paper highlights the critical role of linguistic and rhetorical analysis in uncovering the profound layers of Qur’anic expression and illustrates how these linguistic features reaffirm the Qur’an’s unique inimitability (iʿjāz).