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القرآن
1 The sura and its neighbours 6 / 7

The refrain divides the sura into stanzas

Observation 3 examples 1 min

When a refrain returns at regular intervals, it divides the sura into stanzas: each stanza brings a proof or an account, and the refrain gives it the same verdict. That is why it is translated identically each time.

Sura 77 is built this way. After each proof (creation, the earth, the Day of Separation), the same sentence falls: "Woe, that Day, to the deniers!" (77:15, 77:19, 77:24… ten times). The reader hears the verdict return and understands that each proof leads to the same conclusion.

Sura 54 has two alternating refrains. One turns to the past: "So how were My punishment and My warnings?" (54:16, 54:18, 54:21, 54:30); the other turns to the listener: "We have indeed made the Recitation easy for remembrance: is there then anyone to take heed?" (54:17, 54:22, 54:32, 54:40). Each punished people is followed by both: what happened, and what you will make of it.

Sura 57 closes each reminder about the people of the Scripture with the same sentence: "And many of them are the oversteppers" (57:16, 57:26, 57:27).

In the text

Example 77:15
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
“Woe, that Day, to the deniers!”
The verdict that follows each proof in sura 77.
Example 54:16
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
“So how were My punishment and My warnings?”
First refrain of sura 54, turned to the past.
Example 54:17
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
“is there then anyone to take heed?”
Second refrain, turned to the listener.