Textual Cohesion in Surah al-Sharh: A Rhetorical-Textual Study

Abstract

This study examines Surah al-Sharh from the perspective of textual cohesion, analyzing its syntactic, lexical, semantic, and rhetorical dimensions within the framework of modern text linguistics. The findings reveal that syntactic cohesion is achieved through connectors, reference, ellipsis, as well as consistency in predication and verb tense distribution, ensuring continuity of meaning and structural coherence. Lexical analysis demonstrates a network of semantic relations based on repetition, antonymy, and collocation, whereby the vocabulary of the surah forms interconnected semantic fields that reinforce thematic unity. At the semantic level, the surah follows a coherent progression that moves from psychological reassurance, to the reinforcement of hope, and finally to practical guidance, reflecting a unified communicative purpose. Furthermore, rhetorical devices such as interrogative forms, repetition, figurative imagery, and contrast contribute to strengthening cohesion by intensifying meaning and enhancing its psychological and pedagogical impact. The study concludes that Surah al-Sharh represents a coherent model of Qur’anic discourse, in which different linguistic levels interact to produce a unified and functionally effective text..