Theory of the Inimitability of the Quran and al-Nizāmiyya Schools More Attention to al-Jurjānī's Rhetorical Views To the End of 8th Century AH

Abdulqāhir al-Jurjānī (d. 471 AH), the famous grammarian is mostly popular for his theory of coherency, a theory by which he managed to view Quranic inimitability from a different angle. This study aims to elaborate on this view, investigates the practical and theoretical factors causing the expansion of it and indicates a few cases of later scholar's attentions to this theory. As it will be shown, the rhetorical views of great scholars up to the 8th century were greatly influenced by al-Jurjānī's views. The theorists like al Zamakhsharī, Fakhrud-dīn al-RāzĪ, al-Sakākī, al-ZamlakānĪ, Yahyā b. Ḥamza al-'Alavī and al-Taftāzānī are among some who were deeply influenced by him. His great fame and popularity might have been due to his devotion to the Asharī theological school and his support of al-Shāfi'ī legal school in the newly established al-Nizāmīyya schools. These two affiliations let his views to spread and develop among later scholars. His early views were welcomed in al-Nizāmiyya school during his lifetime and later in coming eras other scholars pursued his theory as well. In other words, the popularity of his theory seems to have been resulted from the social functions of his theory and the attempts of his students, a theory about which the present study has been formed.