An Analytical Exploration of the Story of Prophet Adam (AS) in Surah Al-A’raf in Light of Gérard Genette’s Narrative Theory

Gérard Genette, a French structuralist theorist, investigates the structure of narrative discourse from various perspectives. The Holy Qur’an contains numerous stories intended to guide humankind, and these narratives can be more deeply analyzed through the lens of Genette’s narrative theory. Among them, the Qur’anic narrative of Prophet Adam (AS) stands as one of the most prominent. The significance of the narrative techniques employed in the story of Prophet Adam (AS) in Surah Al-A‘raf lies in their ability to enhance both the structural depth and the theological impact of the text. Gérard Genette’s narrative theory provides a valuable lens through which these techniques—such as anachrony, narrative voice, speed, and frequency—can be systematically examined. Overall, these narrative strategies are not merely aesthetic choices but serve a deeper didactic purpose, aligning the structure of the story with its spiritual and moral messages. The present study examines this narrative discourse in Surah Al-A‘raf using both descriptive-analytical and statistical methods within Genette’s theoretical framework. The findings revealed that the story is narrated indirectly through the voice of God Almighty, functioning as the omniscient narrator external to the narrative world. In terms of narrative time (anachrony), most of the verses reflect homodiegetic prolepses and analepses, while some verses exhibit no anachrony at all. Regarding narrative frequency, singulative narration appears in the opening and closing verses, whereas iterative narration is observed in the middle sections. The overall pace of the narrative is accelerated, contributing to its rhetorical and thematic impact.

کلیدواژه ها:

Holy Quran ، Prophet Adam (AS) Story ، Gerard Genette ، Narratology ، Narrative Speed