a-lam tara ilā — the "have you not seen" frame
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى
a-lam tara ilā — Have you not seen / considered … (14:28; 2:243; 2:246; 3:23; 40:69; 4:44; 4:51; 4:60; 4:77; 58:8; 59:11)
In the verses given, a negative rhetorical question built on the verb raʾā with the preposition ilā directs a second-person or third-person addressee to look at a named party or object, and the slot that follows is filled either by human groups characterized by a verb of conduct or by created things displaying Allah's power.
The frame consists of a negative particle plus an imperfect jussive verb from the root r-ʾ-y followed by the preposition ilā. In eleven of the fourteen verses given the verb is تَرَ, second masculine singular (14:28; 2:243; 2:246; 3:23; 40:69; 4:44; 4:51; 4:60; 4:77; 58:8; 59:11), addressed to a single addressee; in three it is يَرَوْا۟, third masculine plural with a suffixed pronoun (16:48; 16:79; 26:7); in two of these (16:48; 26:7) the negative particle is أَوَلَمْ rather than أَلَمْ, while 16:79 keeps أَلَمْ. The frame is not a plain information question: the negative makes it rhetorical, presupposing that the thing is available to be seen and pressing the addressee to attend to it. The slot after ilā falls into two sets in these verses. Ten times it is filled by ٱلَّذِينَ plus a characterizing verb — those who exchanged favor for denial (14:28), who went out from their dwellings (2:243), who were given a share of the Book (3:23; 4:44; 4:51), who claim to have trusted (4:60), to whom it was said (4:77), who were restrained from secret counsel (58:8), who acted hypocritically (59:11), who dispute the signs of Allah (40:69) — or by ٱلْمَلَإِ (2:246). Three times it is filled by created things: what Allah has created of any thing (16:48), the birds (16:79), the earth (26:7). In both sets the frame does the same work: it takes material already known or visible and converts it into an object of scrutiny that the verse then elaborates — their people made to alight in the abode of ruin (14:28), signs for a people who trust (16:79), turning away after being called (3:23).
Where it occurs
- 14:28 Directs the addressee to those who exchanged Allah's favor for denial and made their people alight in the abode of ruin.
- 16:48 Third-person plural form (أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟) directing them to what Allah has created, whose shadows submit.
- 16:79 Directs the third-person plural to the birds as signs for a people who trust.
- 26:7 Directs the third-person plural to the earth and what Allah has caused to grow in it.
- 2:243 Directs the addressee to those who went out from their dwellings fearing death, whom Allah made die and revived.
- 2:246 Directs the addressee to the chiefs of the Children of Israel who asked for a king and then turned away.
- 3:23 Directs the addressee to those given a share of the Book who turn away when called to it.
- 40:69 Directs the addressee to those who dispute the signs of Allah – how they are turned away.
- 4:44 Directs the addressee to those given a portion of the Book who buy misguidance.
- 4:51 Directs the addressee to those given a portion of the Book who trust in al-jibt and al-tāghūt.
- 4:60 Directs the addressee to those who claim trust yet seek judgment by al-tāghūt.
- 4:77 Directs the addressee to those told to hold back their hands, a group of whom then feared the people when fighting was prescribed and asked for delay.
- 58:8 Directs the addressee to those restrained from secret counsel who return to it.
- 59:11 Directs the addressee to those who acted hypocritically, of whom Allah bears witness that they are liars.
All Qur'anic expressions