The Fourth Matter
The power and strength of speech is achieved through all its parts responding to one another and assisting one another, and by all indicating the basic aim to its own extent and pointing the finger at what is intended, representing the rule: Our expressions are diverse but your beauty is one, And all [of us] point to that beauty. That is to say, the parts should be like streams or ditches feeding a pool at the centre of them, which is the aim of the speech.
In Short: Mutual response and co‑operation are necessary so that the form of the speech’s aim, which is traced on the mind’s networks by the view of reason, should not be confused.
Indication Order emerges from this point, from which proportion is born and beauty and elegance shine. If you wish, ponder over the word of the Lord of Dignity. Consider, for instance, the verse, But if a breath of your Sustainer’s punishment touches them. It was revealed to induce fear of punishment an atom of which crushes like a huge boulder and to show how anxious and querulous is man. In accordance with the rhetorical rule of ‘causing a thing to be reflected through its opposite,’ it wants to illustrate the severity of a small amount of punishment in order to scare, so every part of the verse reaches out and reinforces the basic aim, which is littleness or fewness.
As follows:
The words, But if signify doubt, and doubt looks to littleness or fewness. The word touches means to touch lightly and expresses a small amount. And just as the word a breath is merely a whiff, so is it in the singular form. Grammatically it is a maṣdar marra and signifies once. Also the tanwīn indicating indefiniteness in a breath expresses littleness or fewness and means it is so insignificant it can scarcely be known. The word of signifies division or a part; it means a bit and indicates paucity. The word punishment points to a light sort of punishment in relation to chastisement (nakāl) and suggests a small amount. And by alluding to mercy the word your Sustainer indicates littleness or fewness.
If the small amount of punishment suggested in all this paucity is such, Allah protect us from what is greater.
Warning This is a pattern or model for you; if you know calligraphy, you can copy it out, for all the Qur’anic verses display the same order, proportion, and beauty. However, the aims are sometimes overlapping and in unbroken succession; the one that follows the previous is connected with the next, but they are not mixed up. You have to study them carefully, for a superficial reading may lead to much confusion.