Linguistic Manifestation Of The Mechanisms Of Textual Cohesion Of The Qur'anic Text: Surah Al-Ma'arij As A Model/ التعبير اللغوي عن آليات التماسك النصي للنص القرآني: سورة المعارج انموذجا
Abstract
This study examines the role of reference in achieving textual cohesion in Surah Al-Ma‘arij through a descriptive-analytical approach grounded in textual linguistics. It focuses on three referential devices: pronouns, relative pronouns, and demonstrative pronouns. The findings reveal that pronominal reference is the most prominent mechanism, with 74 pronouns identified, including 52 attached pronouns, 14 implicit pronouns, and 8 independent pronouns. The attached pronoun *-hu* (هاء) occurs most frequently and predominantly refers to the disbelievers, reinforcing their central position in the surah’s discourse. Relative-pronoun reference occurs 15 times, with *alladhina* (الذين) accounting for 9 occurrences, primarily identifying the worshippers and progressively consolidating their attributes of faith. Demonstrative reference is less frequent, appearing through two forms, *dhalika* (ذلك) and *ha’ula’i* (هؤلاء), each occurring twice; nevertheless, these forms contribute significantly to linking verses and directing readers back to previously established meanings. Overall, the findings demonstrate that referential cohesion in Surah Al-Ma‘arij operates not merely as a grammatical linking mechanism but also as a semantic and rhetorical strategy. By connecting references to disbelievers, believers, and the Day of Judgment, these devices integrate the surah’s contrasting themes of punishment and reward into a coherent textual structure. The study thus highlights the central role of reference in maintaining continuity of meaning and strengthening the unity of the Qur’anic discourse.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18860/ijazarabi.v9i4.42340
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