Social Ethics on Sūra Yāsīn (Q. 36): A Structural Semiotic Analysis

Abstract

Abstract The Qurʾanic interpretations tend to identify the main idea of sūra Yāsīn (Q. 36) as a resurrection at the doomsday. There is a lack of understanding of its cultural symbols. Meanwhile, the structures of the surah contain some symbolic signs that need to be decoded. This study aims to examine the symbolic meanings of Q. 36 and its relevance to the social life. Employing the structural semiotic theory, the study concludes that Q. 36, in connotative level, consists of the positive characters of humans. The surah gives a warning of the negative characters of humans in the theological and social relationship. In other words, Q. 36 fundamentally contains the symbolic meanings of social ethics. The study shows that the Qurʾanic text is a representative part of the larger context. It is a symbolic medium that represents a cultural meaning. Therefore, not only the structural meaning but also the cultural symbolic meaning are worth of further scrutiny.