This post continues the “Signs in the Horizons” series (see Part 1)
Many Non-Muslims and Muslims labour under the mistaken impression that the Quran lacks any consistent structure. Given the fact that it was revealed gradually over 23 years, shifts rapidly in subject from verse to verse and is not arranged chronologically this impression is understandable.
However the fact is that it does have a definite structure. It is in fact nothing short of miraculous that such an intricate structure exists beneath a seemingly random arrangement. To maintain the consistency of the theme, language and structure of the Quran over 23 years would have not been possible for a human author:
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.
Al – Quran 4: 82
Nazm Al Quran
The erudite 20th century scholars of the Quran Maulana Hameedudin Farahi & Maulana Amin Ehsan Islahi made notable contributions to the study of the structure of the Quran.
According to their research, the Quran was arranged in seven pairs sharing common themes. Their eminent student, javed Ahmad Ghamidi summarises their conclusions here.
Briefly the Quran is arranged in seven sections which link the suras by themes. There is also a clear structure within each Surah, from the article above:
In a nutshell, as per this arrangement, the Qur’ān is divided in seven distinct groups and the sūrahs within each group occur in pairs. This pairing of the sūrahs is on the basis of the topics discussed, and each member of a pair has a complimentary relation with one another. Some sūrahs are an exception to this scheme like SūrahFātiḥah, which is like an introduction to the whole Qur’ān. Some other sūrahs have come as a supplement or as a conclusion of a group. This scheme, with its seven sūrah-groups and pairing of the sūrahs, is stated by the Qur’ān in the following words:
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ سَبْعًا مِنْ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنَ الْعَظِيمَ
And [O Prophet!] We have bestowed upon you seven mathānī[1] which is this great Qur’ān. (15:87)[2]
Each group of the Qur’ān begins with one or more Makkan sūrah and ends with one or more Madīnan sūrah.
Following is a brief description of the seven Qur’ānic groups:
Group I {SūrahFātihah (1) – SūrahMāi’dah (5)}
Makkan: 1
Madīnan: 2-5
Group II {SūrahAn‘ām (6) – SūrahTawbah (9)}
Makkan: 6,7
Madīnan: 8,9
Group III {SūrahYūnus (10) – SūrahNūr (24)}
Makkan: 10-23
Madīnan: 24
Group IV {SūrahFurqān (25) – SūrahAḥzāb (33)}
Makkan: 25-32
Madīnan: 33
Group V {SūrahSabā (34) – SūrahḤujurāt (49)}
Makkan: 34-46
Madīnan: 47-49
Group VI {SūrahQāf (50) – SūrahTaḥrīm (66)}
Makkan: 50-56
Madīnan: 57-66
Group VII {SūrahMulk (67) – SūrahNās (114)}
Makkan: 67-112
Madīnan : 113-14
What about the structure within a Surah? the Farahi School sees it as follows:
Each surah has a theme round which its contents revolve and make it into a unified whole. It is the most comprehensive statement of its contents and what the soul is to a body, the theme is to a surah.
Together with the main text of a surah, there is an introduction and a conclusion. Surahs have distinct sections to mark thematic shifts, and every section is paragraphed to mark smaller shifts. Some surahs may be without sections. The verses of the introduction and of the conclusion also may at times be divided into paragraphs.
These paragraphs and these sections relate to each other not through a verse to verse linear connection but through various literary devices like similes, comments, conditional statements, parenthetical statements, principle statements, warning statements, parallelism, conclusion of a theme, questions and their answers, and statements or passages which return to what is said in the beginning. This of course is not an exhaustive list.
The text of a surah progresses through these paragraphs and section and gradually reaches its culmination. As a result, the surah assumes a distinct and unique form and shape, and becomes a complete and independent whole.
(Adapted from Ghamidis “Meezan” – the section “Coherence in the Discourse, Principles of Understanding the Qur’an.
Ring Structure of The Quran
The remarkable structure of the Quran is like a sea full of hidden pearls, waiting to be discovered. Thus, in recent years it has come to light that the book has a ring structure that presents a challenge to theories of human explanation of the Qur’an’s origins.
Raymond Farrin, a Non-Muslim Scholar has written a detailed book explaining this phenomenon, which can be purchased here.
One can find a good summary here. I would strongly recommend you read this article which describes in detail how the Quranic ring structure is so intricate that it truly boggles the mind. In brief, common themes appear in mirror forms at the start and end of suras, with mini-rings within each section. Once again the article linked explains it brilliantly and must be read.
The Chapter -Verse Matrix
Finally Dr Shabbir Ally presents a brief video covering his discovery of stunning mathematical underpinnings to the structure of the Quran. Please watch and share.