Grammatical Cohesion Mechanisms and Semantic Coherence in Surat al-Ma'idah

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between grammatical cohesion and semantic coherence in Surat al-Ma'idah, demonstrating how diverse linguistic and semantic elements contribute to the unity of the Quranic text. Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, it investigates the functions of key grammatical cohesive devices, including predication, coordination, conditional constructions, deletion, and reference, and analyzes their role in establishing semantic continuity. The research further explores the contribution of major semantic fields—particularly those concerning covenants, legal rulings, and relations with the People of the Book—in creating an integrated conceptual framework that unifies the surah's varied themes. In addition, it examines lexical cohesion, thematic coherence, and purposive coherence, highlighting the roles of repetition, synonymy, and antonymy in reinforcing textual unity. The findings reveal that the interaction between grammatical and semantic mechanisms produces a highly cohesive textual structure in which linguistic diversity serves an overarching thematic purpose. The study concludes that Surat al-Ma'idah exemplifies the remarkable coherence of Quranic discourse and recommends extending similar analyses to other Quranic surahs to further illuminate the linguistic and semantic principles underlying Quranic textual cohesion.