The Theory of Cohesion in Tafsīr al-Asās and Its Role in Achieving Textual Coherence

نظرية الربط في تفسير الأساس وأثرها في تحقيق الانسجام النصي

Abstract

This study examines the theory of cohesion as manifested in Al-Asās fī al-Tafsīr by Saʿīd Ḥawwā and its role in achieving textual coherence in the Qur’anic discourse. The study focuses on the relationships that connect the different parts of the Qur’anic text, including verses, narratives, passages, thematic groups, and surahs. Saʿīd Ḥawwā paid particular attention to the contextual and thematic relationships among these components, regarding them as interconnected units that contribute to the unity of meaning and the coherence of the Qur’anic text. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach by examining selected examples from Al-Asās fī al-Tafsīr and analyzing the forms of cohesion employed by Ḥawwā in explaining the relationships among the various parts of the Qur’anic discourse. The study demonstrates that cohesion in Ḥawwā’s interpretation is not restricted to the connection between individual verses, but extends to narratives, passages, thematic groups, and the relationships between surahs and their central themes. The findings indicate that this approach contributes significantly to revealing the thematic unity of the Qur’anic text, the continuity of meaning, and the coherence of its internal and external structure. It also demonstrates the importance of contextual and thematic analysis in understanding the interconnectedness of the Qur’anic discourse.