Sūrat at-Taḥrīm
Observations on how Sūrat at-Taḥrīm appears to be structured and organized in the Quran
Sūrah at-Taḥrīm (The Prohibition) is undoubtedly a Madinan sūrah based on the contents and themes within it. It focuses on an incident concerning the wives of the Messenger ﷺ, as well as lessons we can learn from the wives of other individuals of the past. When the contents of the sūrah are studied, it appears it is organized in a mirror structure.1
Summarized more succinctly:
CONNECTIONS
[A]/[A’] – Both passages address the Messenger ﷺ directly and describe lessons that we can learn from women. In the first instance, the women being described are the wives of the Prophet ﷺ. In the latter passage, the women we are taught lessons through are a combination of wives of prophets, a wife of a oppressor, and a righteous servant.
[B]/[B’] – Both passages encourage us to repent sincerely to Allah ﷻ
[C]/[C’] – The passage warning us not to oppose the Messenger ﷺ is paired with the passage addressing the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment. To be labeled a disbeliever on the Day of Judgment would mean one either rejected or directly opposed a prophet of Allah ﷻ
[D]/[D’] – The center passages focus on praise-worthy qualities, those which, if embodied, would presumably protect one from Hell.
And Allah ﷻ knows best
Ali Khan, Nouman. “07. At-Tahrim - A Deeper Look” Bayyinah TV, https://www.bayyinahtv.com/video/3810