Saj’: The Art of Rh

Poetry (Shi'r) requires both rhyme AND a strict metrical pattern (Baḥr). Saj' only requires the rhyme/cadence at the end of sentences, without a fixed meter throughout.

Theologically and rhetorically, scholars usually avoid calling the Quran Saj' to distinguish it from human speech (especially that of soothsayers). Instead, the rhyming ends of verses are called Fāṣilah (plural Fawāṣil), though they share linguistic features with Saj'.

Yes! Think of "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." That is technically Saj' in English. It's just much more common and structurally integral in Arabic eloquence.

Only if you are writing a very formal letter of congratulations or condolences. In a business email about a deadline? Please don't. It will look weird.

That breaks the Saj'. Ideally, the rhyme should include the final consonant and the preceding vowel/sound. Kabīr and Ṣaghīr work. Kabīr and Nūr do not work well.

No. When reading Saj', you typically apply Waqf (pausing) at the end of each phrase. So you don't say Kitābun, you say Kitāb to highlight the rhyme.

It originates there, but Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) media often uses it in headlines (Al-ḥall wa-t-tirḥāl - The settling and the traveling) to catch attention.

They should be roughly equal. If one is 3 words and the next is 15 words, the rhythm dies. Keep them balanced.

This is the 'Boss Level' of Saj', where almost every word in the first sentence rhymes with the corresponding word in the second sentence. It's very difficult and rare.

It shouldn't, but beginners often sacrifice meaning for rhyme. Never let the style kill the substance.

Yes, many colloquial proverbs use it. Egyptian: Ya wakhid el-qird ala mālu, yirūḥ el-māl we-yibqa el-qird ala ḥālu (You who marry the monkey for money, the money goes and the monkey stays).

Al-Hamadhani and Al-Hariri are the rockstars of this genre, specifically in their Maqamat (literary assemblies) which are masterpieces of rhymed prose.

It can be. If you use it in casual conversation, you sound like a time traveler. But in writing, it shows mastery and sophistication.

Start with pairs of adjectives. Jamil wa Jalil (Beautiful and Majestic). Then try noun phrases.

The Rawī is the final letter that carries the rhyme. In Kitāb and Bāb, the bā' (b) is the Rawī.

It can be more! You can have a string of 3, 4, or even 10 rhyming phrases, though 2-4 is the sweet spot for modern ears.

Yes, you can switch the rhyme scheme after a few sentences. AAAA, then BBBB. This keeps the listener from getting bored.

Not rude, but it can seem arrogant or 'showing off' if used inappropriately in a humble setting.

Huge yes. That's why so many ancient texts and basic scientific primers (Mutūn) were written in rhyme.

Rap lyrics often function like Saj'—rhythmic, rhyming lines that don't always follow a strict sonnet meter but have a strong flow.