This presentation explores the interplay between sound and meaning in the Qur’an, demonstrating how phonetic patterns contribute to both thematic depth and aesthetic harmony. While Ferdinand de Saussure’s emphasis on linguistic arbitrariness led to the marginalization of sound symbolism in linguistic studies, research by Edward Sapir and contemporary scholars has revived interest in phonetic associations across languages. Building on this foundation, I examine how the Qur’an employs vowel length, rhyme shifts, and consonant contrasts to enhance meaning.
Through case studies from Sūrat al-Muddaththir, Sūrat al-Balad, and Sūrat Maryam, I show how long and short vowels signal abundance and its cessation, while consonant patterns evoke reflection, turbulence, or severity. These phonetic choices not only enhance the Qur’an’s rhetorical and poetic qualities but also reinforce its theological messages. This study highlights the Qur’an’s soundscapes as a sophisticated linguistic device, where meaning and aesthetics function in seamless harmony.