The Phenomenon of Antonymy and Its Role in the Cohesion of the Qur’anic Text: A Study in Juz’ ‘Amma

Abstract

This study aims to examine the phenomenon of antonymy in the Qur’anic text and to explore its role in achieving semantic and rhetorical cohesion through selected examples from Juz’ ‘Amma. The research first discusses the linguistic and rhetorical definitions of antonymy, then moves to analyze its applications within the Qur’an as one of the key stylistic devices used to construct meaning, reinforce concepts, and enhance the impact of the divine message on the audience.

The significance of antonymy lies in its ability to broaden conceptual understanding by juxtaposing opposing pairs such as good and evil, life and death, or light and darkness. This duality provides the Qur’anic discourse with powerful expressive energy, making its meanings more profound and firmly established. The study also demonstrates that antonymy contributes to structural coherence, thematic unity, and the clarification of legislative and guidance-oriented purposes within the Qur’an. The findings conclude that antonymy in the Qur’an is not merely a linguistic occurrence, but a deliberate semantic strategy serving the aesthetic and rhetorical structure of the text.