The Coherence of Surah Al-Dzariyat in Perspective of Semitic Rhetoric

Abstract

The order of the verses and their coherence has been debated among orientalists in qur’anic structure studies. This article aims to reveal the coherence of surah Al-Dzariyat questioned by Richard Bell, regarding the correlation between the verses in the surah. The method of analysing this surah is Semitic Rhetorical Analysis (SRA), utilising the verses’ symmetry explanations from Muslim scholars’ interpretations. This library research adopts descriptive and content analysis methods for analysing data. As the result of the study, surah adz-Dzariyat consists of two passages and seven parts in mirror construction based on Semitic Rhetoric principles. The relation between the verses shows their coherence and excellent verses order without jumpy arrangement. Several groups of verses which at first appeared to be irregular became to appear orderly and have a specific connection which can be understood through Semitic Rhetoric principles. This analysis strengthens the miracles of the Qur’an and refutes various opinions that doubt how good the order of the verses of the Qur’an is.