Layered Semiotics of Surah Takāthur

At-Takāthur is one of the Meccan Surahs, which criticizes a part of the culture of the pre-Islamic society in terms of style and content. Like other Meccan Surahs it absorbs the audience to pay attention to Resurrection. A semiotic exploration of the signs of this surah, particularly its layered semiotics, reveals the messages behind its words and signs. In order to explain the first and apparent meaning of the verses, we analyzed the signs of this surah based on interpretive and literary sources. Findings show that in this surah on the horizontal axis, the choice of the words “Alhākum at-Takāthur” is reminiscent of a vain traditional behavior in the pre-Islamic era. This surah also considers visiting the graves with the intention of pride (extravagance) a fanatical approach to tribalism and a kind of irrational sanctification in pre-Islamic culture. On an intentional axis, the beginning words such as “Kallā” (the negative sign of the nexus-oriented) and “Thumma” (the connection of the nexus-oriented), “s” and “sawfa” refer to the condemnation and rejection of such useless behavior. These words also refer to the necessity of attention to a knowledge which will be occurred very soon.