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7. THE USE OF REPETITION IN THE QUR’ĀN (2) The use of repetition in the Qur’ān according to scholars of tafsīr (commentary of the Qur’ān) serves many purposes, among which are as follows: 1. decision, taqrīr )(ال ّت ْق ِريْر. If we repeat something it means it has been decided by us. Allah said in the Qur’ān: َ َِنَ ْال َوعِ ي َِد ََ صرَّ ْف َناَفِي َِهَم ََ َِو َك َذل َ كَأَ ْن َز ْل َناهََقرْ آ ًناَ َع َر ِب ًّياَ َو َ )111:ونَأَوََْيحْ دِثََلَه َْمَ ِذ ْكرً اَ(طه ََ لَ َعلَّه َْمَ َي َّتق And thus We have sent it down as a Qur’ān in Arabic, and have explained therein in detail the warnings, in order that they may fear Allah, [i.e., leave their sin] or that it may cause them to have a lesson from it (or to have the honour for believing and acting on its teachings) (Q. 20:13) The repetition of warning in the Qur’ān with the consequence of punishments indicates that it has been decided that punishment will be inflicted upon nonbelievers. 2. alerting )(ال َّت ْن ِبيه, such as the expression “O my people” َ)( َيا َق ْو ِم in the following verses: َ َياَ َق ْو َِمَإِ َّن َماَ َه ِذَِه.لَالرَّ َشاد ََ ونَأَهْ دِك َْمَ َس ِبي َِ نَ َياَ َق ْو َِمَا َّت ِبع ََ لَالَّذِيَآ َم ََ َو َقا )13-13:ارَ(غافر َِ ِيَ َدارََ ْال َق َر ََ َ ْال َح َياةََال ُّد ْن َياَ َم َتاعََ َوإِنَََّ ْاْلخ َِرََةَه And the man who believed said: “O my people! Follow me, I will guide to the way of right conduct [i.e. guide you to Allah’s religion of Islamic monotheism with which Musa has been sent. O my people! Truly this life of the world is nothing but a (quick passing) enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.” (Q. 40:38-39) A man among the Pharaoh’s people secretly believed in Prophet Moses a.s. and asked his people to follow him so that he would show him the right way. He said repeatedly: “O my people” to make them pay