Recent scholarly attention to the structural organization of Qurʿanic surahs and their internal coherence has significantly advanced exegetical studies. This article employs inferential structural analysis to examine the content and architecture of Surah al-Dhariyat, elucidating its thematic unity, central argumentative axis, and rhetorical objectives through a systematic and evidence-based approach. The study aims to delineate the surahʿs overarching thematic framework while demonstrating its structural coherence, achieved through a rigorous examination of verbal and semantic interconnections among verses and their logical groupings.
The primary research problem addressed is the lack of a comprehensive, analytically sound examination of the structural coherence in Surah al-Dhariyat—a gap evident in prior literature. While some studies have explored thematic continuities within the surah, none have systematically derived its core message through a methodologically grounded framework. This study thus seeks to answer the central question:
What constitutes the structural and thematic axis of Surah al-Dhariyat within an inferential analytical framework?
Subsidiary questions include: (1) How can the internal coherence of verses be identified and organized into meaningful textual units (siyaqs) ? (2) What inferential titles best encapsulate each unit? (3) How does the thematic orientation of each verse group contribute to the surahʿs unified message?
Methodologically, the study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, relying on library-based research and applying Khamehgarʿs inferential structural analysis. This framework involves: (a) identifying cohesive verse units through verbal and semantic linkages, (b) assigning contextually derived titles to each unit, (c) grouping units into broader thematic blocks (siyaqs) , and (d) synthesizing these blocks to extract the surahʿs central axis. A key advantage of this method is its reliance on logically verifiable textual relationships rather than subjective thematic associations, ensuring an objective derivation of the surahʿs core message.
The analysis reveals that Surah al-Dhariyat comprises three principal siyaqs, further divided into nine sub-themes. The first siyaq (vv. 1–19) employs cosmological oaths and natural phenomena to affirm the inevitability of Resurrection and divine sustenance, while delineating the moral traits of the God-conscious (muttaqin). The second siyaq (vv. 20–51) integrates cosmic and historical evidence—drawing on signs in the universe (afaq) and within the self (anfus) , as well as the fates of past nations—to reinforce the necessity of belief in resurrection and prophetic truth. The third siyaq (vv. 52–60) culminates in a direct admonition to disbelievers, clarifying the purpose of creation as worship and underscoring Godʿs absolute self-sufficiency.
The surahʿs sequential progression is deliberate: it begins with abstract, nature-based proofs, transitions to concrete historical precedents, and concludes with a moral exhortation. This tripartite structure reflects a logical movement from conceptual reflection to practical warning, enhancing its rhetorical impact.
The findings affirm that Surah al-Dhariyat exhibits a cohesive and intentional structure, unified by its central axis: *the affirmation of Resurrection through ontological and historical evidence, coupled with a warning to those who reject divine truth*. This theme is systematically advanced through rational argumentation, empirical signs, and historical narratives.
The study concludes that inferential structural analysis is a robust tool for uncovering the Qurʿanʿs internal coherence, offering a model for similar investigations across the Qurʿanic corpus. It underscores the necessity of such methodological rigor in exegetical studies to avoid arbitrary interpretations and to deepen engagement with the Qurʿanʿs compositional brilliance.