Commentary on al-Jalal al-Bayn's Tafsir: (( Ha-Mim )) Allah knows best what He intended by it.
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The author says: "Allah knows best what He intended by it", meaning we do not know what He intended. Did He intend to establish a meaning, or did He not intend to establish a meaning? Did He intend a specific meaning, or what? The important point is that we refer the matter to Allah. Our position regarding this referral is the same as our position regarding the other letters of the alphabet with which some surahs begin. However, given that the Qur'an was revealed in the Arabic language, we must say that they are two alphabetic letters with no meaning, meaning we are certain that they have no meaning. This is because the Qur'an was revealed in the Arabic language, and the Arabic language does not assign meaning to alphabetic letters. This is narrated from Mujahid, the imam of the exegetes in his time, the time of the Tabi'un, and it is the truth, for Allah the Exalted said: [Ash-Shu'ara 26:193-195].
If someone were to say: It is objected to this view that there is in the Qur'an what has no meaning and no benefit, and is merely disjointed letters with no benefit. We say the answer to this objection is that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, spoke with it for a purpose, not for a meaning, that is, for a profound wisdom. That wisdom is that this Qur'an, which defeated you, O eloquent Arabs, did not come with anything new in terms of letters, but rather it came with the letters from which you construct your speech, and yet it defeated you. You were unable to arrange the letters to be like the Qur'an. If you were unable to do that, then your inability to produce the meaning of these words is even more certain. This is what al-Zamakhshari mentioned in his tafsir, and Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) approved of it. He also mentioned it, either as an original statement or by following others. The important point is that this is the correct view according to the meticulous scholars, which is that Allah the Exalted revealed them to complete the challenge to these eloquent people who were unable to produce the like of the Qur'an or the like of a part of it. They supported this view by stating that Allah the Exalted did not begin a surah with alphabetic letters except that He mentioned the Qur'an after them, except in rare cases.
(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 مبينIf someone were to say: It is objected to this view that there is in the Qur'an what has no meaning and no benefit, and is merely disjointed letters with no benefit. We say the answer to this objection is that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, spoke with it for a purpose, not for a meaning, that is, for a profound wisdom. That wisdom is that this Qur'an, which defeated you, O eloquent Arabs, did not come with anything new in terms of letters, but rather it came with the letters from which you construct your speech, and yet it defeated you. You were unable to arrange the letters to be like the Qur'an. If you were unable to do that, then your inability to produce the meaning of these words is even more certain. This is what al-Zamakhshari mentioned in his tafsir, and Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) approved of it. He also mentioned it, either as an original statement or by following others. The important point is that this is the correct view according to the meticulous scholars, which is that Allah the Exalted revealed them to complete the challenge to these eloquent people who were unable to produce the like of the Qur'an or the like of a part of it. They supported this view by stating that Allah the Exalted did not begin a surah with alphabetic letters except that He mentioned the Qur'an after them, except in rare cases.