Draft Article on Surat al Qadr (Q 97) -- Last of the Trilogy
Reply #5 - April 30, 2015, 05:50 PM
Thanks guys! You know, an interesting new point just occurred to me, and I need to work it into the brief. I had not thought about the rhyme scheme of this surah as it relates to the interpolated content in the fourth verse. I had wondered why the phrase about "with permission of the Lord" is strangely stuck between the first half and the min kulli 'amrin end. Now that I think about it, this may further show how Luxenberg and Sinai are both partly right. Look at how it works.
1. innā anzalnāhu fī laylati l-qadri
2. wamā adrāka mā laylatu l-qadri
3. laylatu l-qadri khayrun min alfi shahrin
4. tanazzalu l-malāikatu wal-rūḥu fīhā bi-idh’ni rabbihim min kulli ’amrin
5. salāmun hiya ḥattā maṭlaʿi l-fajri
Now if we just delete bi-idh'ni rabbihim from the fourth verse, which is certainly an interpolation that makes the verse overlong (as Sinai says, this phrase is a classic late Qur'anic phrase), *but leave the following clause intact,* then we are left with:
1. innā anzalnāhu fī laylati l-qadri
2. wamā adrāka mā laylatu l-qadri
3. laylatu l-qadri khayrun min alfi shahrin
4. tanazzalu l-malāikatu wal-rūḥu fīhā min kulli ’amrin
5. salāmun hiya ḥattā maṭlaʿi l-fajri
In pausal form, the surah's (relatively weak) rhyme scheme is retained. qadr, qadr, shahr, 'amr, fajr. This explains why the interpolator would have jammed the 'permission of the Lord' phrase into the middle of the verse (rhyme scheme), and also means you don't have to explain why he would have interpolated two phrases at the end, bi-idh’ni rabbihim min kulli ’amrin, when one would've seemed sufficient and less obtrusive.
Now if you take Luxenberg to be right about 'amr being 'hymns,' which its cognate memra does mean in Syriac, then the fourth line would mean this: "The angels and Spirit descend with all hymns." This makes a hell of a lot more sense than either Luxenberg or Sinai's readings (Luxenberg claims this line means the angels 'send down' all sorts of hymns, but really it seems to mean they descend WITH all of the hymns sung by the vigil-keepers, joining in every song). And then you compare that reading with the description of what happens during a Syriac vigil, quoting Ephraim's Hymn No. 14 again, this makes it clear that the angels do not 'send down' hymns but rather they actually descend at the vigil and JOIN in singing the hymns at the vigil.
3. To-day the angels, and the archangels,—descended to sing—a new song on earth.—In this mystery they descend, and rejoice with the vigil-keepers.—At the time when they gave praise, blasphemy abounded.—Blessed be the Birth by which, lo! the world resounds—with anthems of praise.
4. For this is the night that joined, the Watchers on high with the vigil-keepers.—The Watcher came to make watchers in the midst of creation.—Lo! the vigil-keepers are made comrades with the Watchers:—the singers of praise are made, companions of the Seraphs.—Blessed be he who becomes, the harp of Thy praise!—and Thy grace becomes his reward.
This all makes remarkably good sense to me, everything seems to click together .... I will need to rework the essay to reflect this idea. That's the thing about drafts ...
Topic: Draft Article on Surat al Qadr (Q 97) -- Last of the Trilogy