Rhetorical Terminology in Wafayāt al-Aʿyān by Ibn Khallikān: ʿIlm al-Bayān as a Model

This This study explores the rhetorical terminology employed in Wafayāt al-Aʿyān wa-Anbāʾ Abnāʾ az-Zamān by Ibn Khallikān (d. 681 AH/1282 CE), a biographical work that harmoniously blends documentary accuracy with literary sophistication. Focusing on terms from ʿIlm al-Bayān (the science of figurative discourse), the research highlights the author’s refined literary taste and his intentional use of rhetorical devices throughout his entries. Classical Arabic terms such as īḍāḥ (elucidation), faṣāḥa (eloquence), balāgha (rhetorical mastery), istiʿāra (metaphor), and tashbīh (simile) are not merely cited, but function as stylistic tools that shape the text’s aesthetic and semantic dimensions. Using a textual-analytical approach, the study traces the occurrence and function of these terms, showing how they contribute to literary imagery and elevate the stature of the figures memorialized. It argues that Wafayāt al-Aʿyān should be read not only as a historical source but also as a rhetorical and literary text. By offering a stylistic re-reading of a work traditionally viewed through historical or linguistic lenses, this research fills a gap in heritage studies and sheds light on the dynamic interplay between historiography, literary artistry, and classical Arabic rhetorical tradition.