Bismillah,

In our last posts of the Quranic Miracle Series, we saw a glimpse of how Quran is a miracle. The scholars have not just scrutinized the content of the Quran, but also the form. The Quranic Sciences course discusses some case studies to understand the linguistic miracle of the Quran. Shaykh Sohail explains how every word is fit perfectly in the verse, how every word so measured and carefully selected to match the situation.

Ibn ‘Atiyya, a great Spanish mufassir, said: if a words was to be removed from it, and one would go through the entire of Arabic language to find a word other than this word to replace it, you couldn’t be able to find it, I couldn’t find another word for it.

He says about himself: even I can feel this reality in most of the Quran. And in some places, it’s hidden from me, and that’s because of my own shortcomings.

If you look up any dictionary, both فعل and عمل mean “to do”

1. example of عمل

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ

whereas those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds [2:82]

Notice how عمل is translated as deeds

يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ مَا يَشَاء مِن مَّحَارِيبَ

They worked for him as he desired, (making) arches [34:13]

This verse refers to the jinn worked for Sulayman alayhis salam. They worked - building arches.

2. examples of فعل

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ

ART THOU NOT aware of how thy Sustainer has dealt with [the tribe of] ‘Ad [89:06]

When Allah talks about his dealing with ‘aad, the word “فعل” is used (not عمل).

Likewise, when Musa alayhis salam struck a guy and killed him, his striking is called a “فعل”, and Pharaoh says to him:

وَفَعَلْتَ فَعْلَتَكَ الَّتِي فَعَلْتَ وَأَنتَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ

And yet thou didst commit that [heinous] deed of thine, and [hast thus shown that] thou art one of the ingrate!” [26:19]

Now we look back and compare these verses to understand the difference between عمل and فعل. It is mentioned by imam Suyuti that عمل is used for actions done over a period of time. That is why in verse 1, عمل was used, because the deeds are done over a period of time, and verse 2, the jinn were working for him laboriously, making these contructions. Verse 3: Allah’s dealings are instant. And likewise, Musa alayhis salam’s strike was once, in an instant. Therefore verses 3 and 4, use فعل

Imam Ragil asqalaani looks deeper.

عمل is a task with an intention, and intelligent

فعل for just that instance, can be intelligent or non-intelligent being, with intention or without. فعل is more broad.

Now applying what we have learned:

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالطَّيْرُ صَافَّاتٍ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيحَهُ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ

Hast thou not seen that Allah, He it is Whom all who are in the heavens and the earth praise; and the birds in their flight? Of each He knoweth verily the worship and the praise; and Allah is Aware of what they do [24:41]

يَفْعَلُون“what they do” – فعل is used because, the subject is non-intelligent.

قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِن كَانُوا يَنطِقُونَHe said: But this, their chief hath done it. So question them, if they can speak. [21:63]

“Smashing of the big idol” –likewise فعل is used, as the idol is a non-intelligent being.

وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ

كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ

يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ

But verily over you (are appointed angels) to protect you,-Kind and honourable,- Writing down (your deeds):They know (and understand) all that ye do. 82:10-12

Upon you are angels who know what “you are doing”.Most of time, our deeds are referred to as عمل. But in this verse فعل was used. Therefore, it gives a deeper and an encompassing meaning. The angels’ knowledge is broad – they know what we intend, what we don’t intend, thoughts in our heart, in our mind – both intelligent and non-intelligent. The listener who is fine tuned gets a stronger impact – a warning in this case – that the word عمل doesn’t produce.

This is ONE example how the best word is picked – the word is measured for the situation, the context, the rhythm, and the meaning.

Related course: The Peak of Eloquence - Tasting the Linguistic Miracle of the Quran