In many surahs, at their beginning, there are (Alif Lam Mim), (Qaf), (Kaf Ha Ya 'Ain Sad), (Ha Mim), (Ha 'Ain Sin Qaf). What is the meaning of these verses? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with good.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : In many surahs, at their beginning: What is the meaning of these verses? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : These verses are the letters of the alphabet. Allah the Exalted began with them in some of the surahs, and the scholars differed regarding them:
Some said that they are the names of these surahs. Some said that they are symbols and pointers to the names of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Some said that they, or some of them, are pointers to events that will occur. Some said that Allah knows best what He intended by them. Some said that they are letters of the alphabet that have no meaning, but they have a purpose. They said they have no meaning because Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says in this noble Qur'an:[Ash-Shu'ara 26:193-195] And He the Exalted says: [Yusuf 12:2] And in another verse He says: [Az-Zukhruf 43:3] These letters of the alphabet have no meaning in the Arabic language. Therefore, we say: these letters of the alphabet have no meaning, but they have a purpose and a great wisdom.
This wisdom is to demonstrate that this great, glorious Qur'an, which defeated the masters of eloquence and rhetoric in producing its like—indeed, Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:88] This Qur'an, which defeated the two groups (humans and jinn) in producing its like, is composed of these letters from which these people construct their speech. And yet, they were unable to produce anything like this Qur'an, which is made of these letters. For this reason, you will hardly find a surah that begins with these letters of the alphabet without a mention of the Qur'an following it: [Al-Baqarah 2:2], [Ali 'Imran 3:2-3], [Al-A'raf 7:1-2], [Yunus 10:1], and so on.
As for His saying the Exalted:[Al-'Ankabut 29:1-3], and His saying: [Ar-Rum 30:1-3], although these do not contain a mention of the Qur'an, they contain a mention of true news that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know before this Qur'an was revealed to him, and future news that no one knows except Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and which Allah did not inform him of in His saying: [Ar-Rum 30:2-3] No one knows that the Romans, who were defeated, will be victorious in a few years, except Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
As for His saying the Exalted:[Al-Qalam 68:1-2], it contains a pointer to the Qur'an, in that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), to whom this Qur'an was revealed, was described and characterized with these noble descriptions. Indeed, it can be said that there is also a pointer in His saying: [Al-Qalam 68:1], for the Qur'an, just as it is preserved in the breasts, is also written with pens.
Alif Lam Mim
المQ
قKaf Ha Ya 'Ain Sad
كهيعصHa Mim 'Ain Sin Qaf
حم عسقThe Shaykh : These verses are the letters of the alphabet. Allah the Exalted began with them in some of the surahs, and the scholars differed regarding them:
Some said that they are the names of these surahs. Some said that they are symbols and pointers to the names of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Some said that they, or some of them, are pointers to events that will occur. Some said that Allah knows best what He intended by them. Some said that they are letters of the alphabet that have no meaning, but they have a purpose. They said they have no meaning because Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says in this noble Qur'an:
(193) The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down (194) Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners - (195) In a clear Arabic language.
نزل به الروح الأمين على قلبك لتكون من المنذرين بلسان عربي مبينIndeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand.
إنا أنزلناه قرآناً عربياً لعلكم تعقلونIndeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand.
إنا جعلناه قرآناً عربياً لعلكم تعقلونThis wisdom is to demonstrate that this great, glorious Qur'an, which defeated the masters of eloquence and rhetoric in producing its like—indeed, Allah the Exalted said:
Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants."
قل لئن اجتمعت الإنس والجن على يأتوا بمثل هذا القرآن لا يأتون بمثله ولو كان بعضهم لبعض ظهيراًThis is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah -
ألم ، ذلك الكتاب لا ريب فيه هدىً للمتقين(2) Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. (3) He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth
ألم ، الله لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم نزل عليك الكتاب بالحق(1) Alif, Lam, Meem, Sad. (2) [This is] a Book revealed to you, [O Muhammad] - so let there not be in your breast distress therefrom - that you may warn thereby and as a reminder to the believers.
ألمص ، كتاب أنزل إليك فلا يكن في صدرك حرج منهAlif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the wise Book
ألر ، تلك آيات الكتاب الحكيمAs for His saying the Exalted:
(1) Alif, Lam, Meem (2) Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (3) But We have certainly tried those before them
ألم ، أحسب الناس أن يتركوا أن يقولوا آمنا وهم لا يفتنون ولقد فتنا الذين من قبلهم(1) Alif, Lam, Meem. (2) The Byzantines have been defeated (3) In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome.
ألم ، غلبت الروم في أدنى الأرض وهم من بعدهم غلبهم سيغلبون(2) The Byzantines have been defeated (3) In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome.
غلبت الروم في أدنى الأرض وهم من بعد غلبهم سيغلبونAs for His saying the Exalted: