Toxic Friendship in the Qur’an Surah al-Furqan (Roland Barthes Semiotic Analysis)

Abstract

This research is motivated by the phenomenon of toxic friendship, a form of social relationship that has negative emotional, mental, and spiritual impacts. This phenomenon is common among adolescents and adults, and has the potential to hinder personality development and distance individuals from religious values. The Qur'an, as a guide for life, pays serious attention to the importance of choosing a good circle of friends, as reflected in QS. Al-Furqan verses 27–29. This study aims to uncover the implied meaning in the verse through Roland Barthes's semiotic approach, which includes three layers of meaning: denotative, connotative, and mythological. The method used is descriptive qualitative with library study techniques. Primary data were obtained from the text of the Qur'an and semiotic theory, while secondary data came from tafsir books and relevant scientific literature. The analysis was carried out by identifying linguistic signs in verses related to the phenomenon of toxic friendship, then analyzed through three levels of Barthesian meaning. The results show that QS. Al-Furqan verses 27–29 contain a serious warning against the negative impacts of bad company. At the denotative level, the verse conveys an expression of deep regret; connotatively, it hints at the destruction of faith due to the influence of bad friends; while at the mythical level, it affirms the importance of building social relationships aligned with divine values. These findings reinforce that the Quran not only provides spiritual guidance but also offers ethical principles for forming healthy friendships.