the glorious Quran is abundant in rhetorical devices. One of these devices that are frequently used in the glorious Quran is the grammatical shift. It is employed in Arabic poetry, but in the Quran it is used more variently, as stated by Haleem (1992):
It (the glorious Quran) employs this
feature far more extensively and in more
variation than does Arabic poetry. It is
therefore natural to find no one seems to
quote reference other than from the Quran.
Besides, it is a very effective rhetorical device (Robinson, 2004). So, it is not strange that the feature has been of interest to Arab scholars, rhetoricians in particular, over centuries. As a rhetorical device, it is studied under the science of rhetoric (Suleiman, 1988: 13). But the place of this feature in Arabic rhetoric is a matter of debate. Functionally, this feature is studied under the science of al-Badiic Adopters of this approach include al-Halabi (n.d.: 117) and al-Zamalkani (1964: 173-174). Formally, it is treated under Ilm al-Ma
for example, by al-Sakkaki (n.d.: 87). Alternatively, Ibn-alAthir (1960, Vol.2: 170) put grammatical shift under the science of al-Bayan. The feature also drew the attention of grammarians. Abu Ubaida, al-Farra, al-Mubarrad, Ibn Qutaiba and Ibn Faris touched upon this feature (see Khulaifat, 2008).
Many terms have been used to refer to grammatical shift. It was referred to as al-Sarf by Ibn Wahb, al-Insiraf by Ibn Munqidh, al-Ictiradh by al-San cani, alcUdool by alZamalkani, and al-Talween by al-Qurtubi (See Suleiman, 1988: 15-20). The term that covers the basic types of grammatical shifts is called Iltifat.