The Intersection of Philosophy and Balāghah: Amin al-Khuli’s Perspective Revisited

Abstract

The discipline of Arabic rhetoric (balāghah) has a profound interconnection with philosophy, particularly through its reliance on mantiq (logic), which employs structured language to convey meaning. The central problem addressed in this study is the extent to which philosophical thought has shaped the development of balāghah, especially in its methods and analytical frameworks. The aim of this research is to explore the philosophical underpinnings of Arabic rhetoric by examining the contributions of Amin al-Khuli, with a primary reference to his seminal work Manāhij Tajdīd fī al-Naḥw wa al-Balāghah wa al-Tafsīr wa al-Adab. Employing a qualitative library research method, this study gathers and analyzes data from classical texts, scholarly books, and relevant journal articles. The findings reveal three significant points. First, balāghah developed along two major methodological paths: the school of the mutakallimūn and the school of the udabāʾ. Second, the integration of philosophy into rhetorical studies unfolded in three stages: the phase of introduction, the phase of translation, and the phase of development and elaboration, particularly from the second Islamic century onward. Amin al-Khuli highlights this historical trajectory, emphasizing the role of early rhetoricians during this era, when philosophical thought had become widely disseminated among Muslim intellectuals. Third, the study demonstrates a strong correlation between philosophy and rhetoric, as both disciplines discuss overlapping concepts such as terminology, propositions, definitions, classifications, and syllogisms, all of which ultimately converge in the field of mantiq. This research contributes to the broader understanding of Arabic rhetoric by showing how philosophical reasoning enriched its theoretical foundations. It also provides new insights into the intellectual legacy of Amin al-Khuli, who reinterpreted balāghah in light of philosophical traditions, thereby shaping modern approaches to Arabic literary and linguistic studies.