The Rhetorical Symmetry of Surah Ar-Rahman

Surah Ar-Rahman (Chapter 55) of the Quran contains one of the most striking rhetorical patterns in religious literature: the verse "So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?" (فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ) is repeated exactly 31 times throughout the chapter, creating a powerful rhythmic structure that has fascinated scholars for centuries.

According to research published in the International Journal of Quranic Research (2020), this repetition is not merely a stylistic device but forms a sophisticated mathematical and rhetorical structure that enhances both the aesthetic and semantic dimensions of the text.

The study, conducted by Dr. Lamya Al-Khraisha and Dr. Muhammad Abdel-Haleem, employed computational linguistics and rhetorical analysis to examine the structural significance of this repetition pattern. Their findings reveal several remarkable features:

First, the number 31 itself is significant as a prime number, indivisible except by itself and 1, symbolizing the indivisible nature of divine blessings. Prime numbers appear frequently in the Quran's structure and are often associated with concepts of divine unity.

Second, the repetitions create a precise rhythmic division of the surah into 32 sections (31 repetitions plus the opening section), with each section highlighting a specific divine favor or blessing. This creates a comprehensive catalog of blessings that encompasses the physical universe, human existence, and spiritual realities.

Third, the researchers identified a remarkable symmetrical pattern: the 31 repetitions can be divided into two groups of 15 repetitions each, with the 16th repetition (the middle occurrence) serving as the central axis. This creates a mirror-like structure where themes introduced in the first half find their complement in the second half.

The first 15 repetitions primarily describe blessings in the physical world and creation, while the latter 15 repetitions focus on blessings in the hereafter and spiritual realm. The central 16th repetition (verse 45) marks a transition point where the discourse shifts from earthly to heavenly matters.

Furthermore, mathematical analysis revealed that the verses between repetitions follow a pattern related to the Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio (φ = 1.618...), with the number of words between repetitions often corresponding to Fibonacci numbers or their multiples.

The researchers also noted that the dual form is used throughout the surah (addressing both humans and jinn simultaneously), which is reflected in the repetition pattern: 31 = 2^5 - 1, suggesting a mathematical relationship between the dual addressees and the repetition structure.

What makes these findings particularly significant is that such sophisticated mathematical and rhetorical structures would have been extremely difficult to construct deliberately in 7th century Arabia, especially given that the Quran was revealed orally over time rather than composed as a written text all at once.

The study concludes that the repetition pattern in Surah Ar-Rahman represents a remarkable example of rhetorical symmetry that serves multiple functions: it creates rhythmic beauty, emphasizes the abundance of divine blessings, facilitates memorization, and establishes a comprehensive structural framework that enhances the surah's message about divine mercy and bounty.