Kupitia kwa haraka tu katika baadhi ya aya za Qur'aan, mtu hugundua mara moja kwamba aina mbalimbali za fasihi zimetumika ndani yake. Matumizi ya aina mbalimbali za fasihi hayatoi tu uwasilishaji wa maua au wa kupambwa unaomvutia msomaji au msikilizaji, bali huwasilisha ujumbe wa pekee wa Qur'aan kwa njia yenye ufanisi zaidi. Kama ilivyotajwa katika sura iliyotangulia, lengo la Qur'aan kimsingi ni kumwongoza mwanadamu katika nyanja tatu: katika uhusiano wake na Mungu, na nafsi yake, na jamii ya kibinadamu anamoishi. Lengo hili linaenea katika kila aya na kila sura, kuanzia mwanzo wa Qur'aan hadi aya ya mwisho ya sura yake ya mwisho, namba mia moja na kumi na nne. Kwa hiyo aina mbalimbali za fasihi zilitumika ili kufikisha ujumbe huu kwa msomaji bila kuwa wa kuchosha au kuonekana wa kurudiarudia.

A brief glimpse through a few of the Qur’aan’s passages immediately reveals that a wide variety of literary forms have been employed in it. The utilization of a variety of literary forms does not simply provide a flowery or elaborate presentation which dazzles the reader or listener, but conveys the unique message of the Qur’aan in the most effective way. As was mentioned in a previous chapter, the aim of the Qur’aan is essentially the guidance of man in three spheres: in his relationship with God, with himself, and with the human society in which he exists. This aim permeates every verse and chapter from the beginning of the Qur’aan until the last verse of its last chapter, number one hundred and fourteen. Thus a variety of literary forms were used to bring this message home to the reader without being monotonous or seemingly repetitious.

Mengi kati ya mifumo hiyo ni ya kipekee kwa lugha ya Kiarabu na miundo yake, huku mengine yakiwa magumu sana na yanayoweza kuthaminiwa tu na wataalamu wa fasihi na lugha. Katika sura hii tutachunguza kwa ufupi aina nne za msingi zaidi za kifasihi zinazotumiwa katika Qur'ani: mathal (mfano, methali, na sitiari), qasam (kiapo), jadal (mjadala), na qissah (simulizi).

Many of the forms are unique to the Arabic language and its constructions, while others are very intricate and appreciable only to literary and linguistic experts. In this chapter we will briefly explore four of the more basic literary forms employed throughout the Qur’aan: the mathal (simile, proverb, and metaphor), the qasam (oath), the jadal (debate), and the qissah (narrative).