Durus al-Balagha — First Lessons in Arabic Rhetoric (دروس البلاغة) — Page 129

Line-by-line translation · المعاني

أَشَارَ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الْمَشْهُورِ وَهُوَ: الْمُسْتَجِيرُ بِعَمْرٍو عِنْدَ كُرْبَتِهِ كَالْمُسْتَجِيرِ مِنَ الرَّمْضَاءِ بِالنَّارِ.

He pointed to the famous verse: Seeking refuge with Amr in one's distress is like escaping the scorching desert only to jump into the fire.

حُسْنُ الِابْتِدَاءِ هُوَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ الْمُتَكَلِّمُ مَبْدَأَ كَلَامِهِ عَذْبَ اللَّفْظِ حَسَنَ السَّبْكِ صَحِيحَ الْمَعْنَى،

A graceful opening occurs when a speaker begins with words that are eloquent, well-structured, and clear in meaning.

فَإِذَا اشْتَمَلَ عَلَى إِشَارَةٍ لَطِيفَةٍ إِلَى الْمَقْصُودِ سُمِّيَ بَرَاعَةَ الِاسْتِهْلَالِ

If the opening includes a subtle hint toward the intended subject, it is termed a brilliant introduction.

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Vocabulary · المفردات (12 verbs · 45 nouns)

• أَشَارَ — to point
• اشْتَمَلَ — to include
• سَمَّى — to name
• بَيْت — verse
• مُسْتَجِير — seeker of refuge
• كُرْبَة — distress