The sequence of pauses in the Holy Quran: A grammatical and semantic study

Abstract

This study examines a type of pause in the Holy Quran that, to the researcher's knowledge, has not been the subject of independent study in books on pauses and continuations. This type of pause, termed "concomitant pause," refers to a series of pauses where stopping at one necessitates stopping at the next, thus ensuring the integrity of the meaning and the coherence of the discourse. The study aims to establish the origins of this term, clarify its concept, and reveal its relationship to the grammatical and semantic structure of the Quranic text. It also compares it with similar pause terms, such as the pause of observation, embrace, and attraction.

The study employs a descriptive-analytical approach, tracing examples of concomitant pauses in the Holy Quran and analyzing them grammatically and semantically. It draws upon books on pauses and continuations, exegesis, and works on Quranic grammar and recitation. The study concluded that this type of pause exists in several Quranic verses and is closely linked to the grammatical and semantic relationships between phrases. It also demonstrated that observing the connection between pauses contributes to clarifying the meaning, preserving the semantic integrity, and highlighting the rhetorical harmony within the Quranic context. Furthermore, it was found that the ruling on this type of pause varies between obligatory and permissible depending on the grammatical and semantic indicators. The proposed guidelines for pausing in conjunction with this connection would help avoid separating related elements and ensure the clarity of meaning during recitation. The study recommended paying attention to this type of pause, including it in contemporary studies of pause and resumption, and employing it in teaching Tajweed and Quranic readings, given its impact on the accuracy of recitation and the clarity of meaning.