An Analysis of Surah Al-Fil Through the Lens of Russian Formalism

The Holy Quran, as an eternal miracle, has been extensively studied from various literary perspectives. Russian Formalism, a prominent text-centered theory, examines how internal textual elements create conflict, tension, and ultimately achieve unity and coherence through "defamiliarization." This process elevates language from everyday usage to literary art. While Formalist principles have been applied to other Quranic surahs, a comprehensive analysis focusing on the interplay of tension, defamiliarization, and form-content harmony in Surah Al-Fil remains underexplored. This article bridges this gap by exploring these aspects in Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant). Utilizing a descriptive-analytical method, involving close textual reading and interpretation of formal devices, the study concludes that, despite its conciseness, the Surah employs various defamiliarization techniques. These include the rhetorical questioning in "الم تر کیف فعل ربک باصحاب الفیل" which compels reflection, an unconventional narrative structure beginning with the outcome to emphasize divine agency, and vivid linguistic imagery like "فجعلهم کعصف ماکول" that viscerally depicts annihilation. The striking contrast between Abraha's overwhelming army and the seemingly weak birds, culminating in divine triumph, demonstrates how formal elements profoundly amplify the core theological message, indicating a profound harmony between form and content.

کلیدواژه ها:

Holy Quran ، Surah Al-Fil ، Russian Formalism ، Defamiliarization ، Tension and contrast ، Form and content