The Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah organized the event on Thursday, bringing together the Sharjah Department of Islamic Affairs, Dubai’s Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities, the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, the University of Sharjah, Al Qasimia University and a distinguished group of researchers from Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Syria and Iraq.

The symposium examined the encyclopedia’s distinctive achievements, explored opportunities to advance rhetorical studies and discussed the importance of using artificial intelligence (AI) to deepen appreciation of the rhetorical features of Quranic parables.

Across several sessions, participants highlighted Sharjah’s efforts to serve the sciences of the Holy Quran, the methodological foundations underpinning the encyclopedia and future approaches to rhetorical studies in the post-encyclopedia era.

Discussions also addressed the impact of AI on understanding the rhetoric of Quranic parables, methods for identifying rhetorical meanings in the Holy Quran, the development and application of rhetorical terminology by Quranic exegetes, and opportunities for the digital application of rhetorical exegesis and its mechanisms.

Dr Abdullah Khalaf Al Hosani, Secretary-General of the Holy Quran Academy, said in his opening address that such scientific gatherings provide a platform for strengthening research and exchanging expertise and knowledge, contributing to the advancement of Quranic and rhetorical studies.

He said the events reflect Sharjah’s vision of supporting scientific research and consolidating its position as a center of learning and knowledge.

Al Hosani added that the academy continues to advance scientific studies and research while exploring new prospects for rhetorical scholarship beyond the encyclopedia. He also highlighted the importance of AI in deepening appreciation of the rhetoric of Quranic parables, linking the heritage of Arabic rhetoric with modern knowledge tools and opening new avenues for research.

“Our goal is to bring the finest achievements of scholarship to the world, making them more accessible to the public and interested readers through works of scholarship and documentation that combine contemporary approaches with heritage,” he said.

He stressed that the academy places considerable emphasis on research relating to the Holy Quran and its sciences. It continues to develop scholarly projects and produce research that serves postgraduate students in Quranic sciences and rhetorical exegesis, strengthening its role in disseminating the intellectual and civilizational legacy of Quranic knowledge.

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Dr Mohammed Safi Al-Mustghanemi, Secretary- General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah and Scientific Director of the Encyclopedia of Rhetorical Exegesis, said the work follows a scholarly methodology that brings together corresponding Quranic verses, presents their overall meanings, explains the meanings and connotations of individual words, and examines the subtleties of verbal similarities in the Quran.

He noted that the encyclopedia highlights subtle semantic and contextual differences between Quranic expressions, drawing on the contributions of leading scholars specializing in Quranic exegesis and readings.

This approach enriches understanding of the Quranic text and reveals aspects of its rhetorical inimitability, he said.

Professor Qutb Al Raysouni, Dean of the College of Sharia at the University of Sharjah, said the encyclopedia had opened new horizons for rhetorical studies of the Holy Quran by combining the meanings of words with the aesthetics of rhetorical imagery and examining the subtleties of Quranic structures.

He highlighted its analysis of rhetorical features such as precedence and postponement, explicit expression and omission, as well as the eloquence of Quranic composition, the beauty of verse endings and their sound patterns.

The encyclopedia has also revealed subtle distinctions between words and their meanings, he added.

Professor Abdulkarim Othman, Dean of the College of the Holy Quran at Al Qasimia University, described the symposium as one of the achievements of the Holy Quran Academy, which contributes to contemporary civilization and renews intellectual thought through pioneering scholarly projects.

He said the academy’s work had helped establish Sharjah as a beacon of learning, culture and care for the Holy Quran and its sciences.

He added that rhetorical scholarship had produced a valuable body of knowledge founded on solid principles and a rigorous academic methodology, opening new avenues for Quranic and rhetorical research.

The symposium was attended by senior officials, researchers, specialists and university professors. At the conclusion, Al Hosani honored the speakers and participants in recognition of their contributions.

Source: sharjah24.ae