In linguistics, language functions are divided into two major categories: ordinary and poetic. A text with normal function seeks to reveal the intentions with the least ambiguity, whereas a poetic text aims to increase ambiguity and expand meanings. A literary text has a world made by itself and utilizes words not defined by reference to the external world or pre-existing concepts. Here, a word can imply unlimited meanings; the referent of a pronoun may either be multiple or not mentioned at all. In addition, any part of a sentence can be separated and understood as an independent expression. This article reviews the linguistic functions of the Qur’an, and by providing a variety of evidences, it attempts to prove the hypothesis that the Qur'an has mixed (hybrid) functions; but not solely in the sense that some verses are ordinary, while others are poetic. Instead, it means that one verse may be ordinary, and at the same time, at another level, it may have a poetic function.

Keywords