Sūrat al-Aʿlā (Part 1)
Part 1 of observations on the structure and organization of Sūrat al-Aʿlā
Sūrat al-Aʿlā (The Highest) is a Makkan sūrah said to be from amongst the earliest revelation. As such, there is a focus on describing Allah ﷻ, as well as giving reassurances to the Messenger ﷺ. It has been observed that the sūrah is organized into a ring structure.1
Or summarized by section:
CONNECTIONS2
[A]/[A’] – The Messenger ﷺ is first commanded to declare the perfection of Allah ﷻ, which means to declare Him as “the Highest.” We must disassociate all lowly attributions one may try and ascribe to Allah ﷻ, the One who created us, guided us, and allows us to live. Contrast this with the sūrah’s ending which commands the Messenger ﷺ to admonish his people for their character flaws, while also praising the one who “mentions the name of his Master and prays.”
There’s also a subtle connection between the description of Allah ﷻ as the one who “brings out the pasture and then makes it black and stubble” and the accusation of preferring the worldly life while “the Hereafter is better and more enduring.” The former alludes to life and death, and the latter speaks of this life and the next life (after death).
[B] – The center of the sūrah reassures the Messenger ﷺ who is early in his ministry that the Quran will not be difficult for him to remember, despite it coming down in parts and out of its destined final order.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.
Farrin, Raymond K. “The Composition and Writing of the Qur'an: Old Explanations and New Evidence.” Journal of College of Sharia and Islamic Studies (2020): Print.
The connections are not mentioned by the author, so I am attempting to explain them on my own.