Two in One and One in Two: An Observation on the Composition of the Qur’ānic Text

Abstract

The article analyzes two opposite but related phenomena. First, when two sūras are treated as one integrated text by Muslim commentators. Second, when the text of a sūra is styled as two autonomous texts each one with its opening oath formulas and its own contents. The analyses of these facts show that: 1) all the phenomena studied belong to the early Meccan period and are concentrated in the last section of the Qur’ānic text traditionally called Al-Mufassal; 2) the borders between the sūras were not absolute and invulnerable as different alternative decisions were rather freely discussed by Muslim scholars, and this gives us an insight in the process of the compilation of the Qur’ānic text; 3) The compilation of the sūras and the compilation of the book were not two successive steps, as is commonly believed, but – at least in some cases – a simultaneous process where decisions were taken at the same time about the number and contents of sūras and of their place in the book.