Some notes about the functions of the particle bal in the Qur'ān

The particle bal in the Qur'ān has two main functions. It can amend a previous statement, this use is called by the Arab grammarians 'istidrāk. The particle bal is also used for 'idrāb, i.e., to reverse or to digress from what was mentioned previously. This paper presents an additional function of this particle. In five verses: Q 2:116; 4:49; 13:31; 34:27 and 38:2 bal is used as an emphasis particle and thus should be translated as "only" "just" or "indeed" and not as it is usually translated as "nay", "but" or "on the contrary". The idea that the particle bal in the Qur'ān has also an emphatic usage came from the Biblical Hebrew, in which the particle aval which is parallel to the Arabic particle bal has this usage.