TAFSIR IBN KATHIR:Sura Al-Baqarah 4
Subjects: THE DISCUSSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL LETTERS
THE LETTERS AT THE BEGINNING OF SURAS
THESE LETTERS TESTIFY TO THE MIRACULOUS QUR’AN.
PC. Controlled by: S.Ahmad Masood Ali
The Discussion of the Individual Letters
The individual letters in the beginning of some Surahs are among those things
whose knowledge Allah has kept only for Himself. This was reported from Abu
Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman, `Ali and Ibn Mas`ud. It was said that these letters are
the names of some of the Surahs. It was also said that they are the beginnings
that Allah chose to start the Surahs of the Qur'an with. Khasif stated that
Mujahid said, "The beginnings of the Surahs, such as Qaf, Sad, Ta Sin Mim and
Alif Lam Ra, are just some letters of the alphabet.'' Some linguists also
stated that they are letters of the alphabet and that Allah simply did not cite
the entire alphabet of twenty-eight letters. For instance, they said, one might
say, "My son recites Alif, Ba, Ta, Tha... '' he means the entire alphabet
although he stops before mentioning the rest of it. This opinion was mentioned
by Ibn Jarir.
The Letters at the Beginning of Surahs
If one removes the repetitive letters, then the number of letters mentioned at
the beginning of the Surahs is fourteen: Alif, Lam, Mim, Sad, Ra, Kaf, Ha, Ya,
`Ayn, Ta, Sin, Ha, Qaf, Nun.
So glorious is He Who made everything subtly reflect His wisdom.
Moreover, the scholars said, "There is no doubt that Allah did not reveal these
letters for jest and play.'' Some ignorant people said that some of the Qur'an
does not mean anything, (meaning, such as these letters) thus committing a
major mistake. On the contrary, these letters carry a specific meaning.
Further, if we find an authentic narration leading to the Prophet that explains
these letters, we will embrace the Prophet's statement. Otherwise, we will stop
where we were made to stop and will proclaim,
﴿ءَامَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا﴾
(We believe in it; all of it (clear and unclear verses) is from our Lord) (3:7).
The scholars did not agree on one opinion or explanation regarding this
subject. Therefore, whoever thinks that one scholar's opinion is correct, he is
obliged to follow it, otherwise it is better to refrain from making any
judgment on this matter. Allah knows best.
These Letters testify to the Miraculous Qur'an
The wisdom behind mentioning these letters in the beginning of the Surahs,
regardless of the exact meanings of these letters, is that they testify to the
miracle of the Qur'an. Indeed, the servants are unable to produce something
like the Qur'an, although it is comprised of the same letters with which they
speak to each other. This opinion was mentioned by Ar-Razi in his Tafsir who
related it to Al-Mubarrid and several other scholars. Al-Qurtubi also related
this opinion to Al-Farra' and Qutrub. Az-Zamakhshari agreed with this opinion
in his book, Al-Kashshaf. In addition, the Imam and scholar Abu Al-`Abbas Ibn
Taymiyyah and our Shaykh Al-Hafiz Abu Al-Hajjaj Al-Mizzi agreed with this
opinion. Al-Mizzi told me that it is also the opinion of Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn
Taymiyyah. KAz-Zamakhshari said that these letters, "Were not all mentioned
once in the beginning of the Qur'an. Rather, they were repeated so that the
challenge (against the creation) is more
daring. Similarly, several stories were mentioned repeatedly in the Qur'an,
and also the challenge was repeated in various areas (i.e., to produce
something like the Qur'an). Sometimes, one letter at a time was mentioned, such
as Sad, Nun and Qaf. Sometimes two letters were mentioned, such as
﴿حـم ﴾
(Ha Mim) (44:1) Sometimes, three letters were mentioned, such as,
﴿الم ﴾
(Alif Lam Mim (2: 1)) and four letters, such as,
﴿المر﴾
(`Alif Lam Mim Ra) (13:1), and
﴿المص ﴾
(Alif Lam Mim Sad) (7:1).
Sometimes, five letters were mentioned, such as,
﴿كهيعص ﴾
(Kaf Ha Ya `Ayn Sad) (19:1), and;
﴿حـم - تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَـبِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ ﴾
(Ha Mim. `Ayn Sin Qaf) (42:1-2).
This is because the words that are used in speech are usually comprised of one,
two, three, four, or five letters.''
Every Surah that begins with these letters demonstrates the Qur'an's miracle
and magnificence, and this fact is known by those well-versed in such matters.
The count of these Surahs is twenty-nine. For instance, Allah said,
﴿الم ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ﴾
(Alif Lam Mim) This is the Book (the Qur'an), wherein there is no doubt (2:1-2),
﴿الم - ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ نَزَّلَ
عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَـبَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقاً لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ﴾
(Alif Lam Mim. Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped
but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyuum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects
all that exists). It is He Who has sent down the Book (the Qur'an) to you
(Muhammad ) with truth, confirming what came before it.) (3:1-3), and,
﴿المص كِتَـبٌ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ فَلاَ يَكُن فِى صَدْرِكَ حَرَجٌ مِّنْهُ﴾
(Alif Lam Mim Sad. (This is the) Book (the Qur'an) sent down unto you (O
Muhammad ), so let not your breast be narrow therefrom) (7:1-2).
Also, Allah said,
﴿الر كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَـهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَـتِ إِلَى
النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ﴾
(Alif Lam Ra. (This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad ) in
order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism)
into the light (of belief in the Oneness of Allah and Islamic Monotheism) by
their Lord's leave) (14:1),
﴿الم - ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴾
(Alif Lam Mim. The revelation of the Book (this Qur'an) in which there is no
doubt, is from the Lord of the `Alamin (mankind, Jinn and all that exists)!)
(32:1-2),
﴿حـم - تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَـبِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ ﴾
(Ha Mim. A revelation from (Allah) the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
(41:1-2), and,
﴿حـم - تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَـبِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ - غَافِرِ
الذَّنبِ وَقَابِلِ التَّوْبِ شَدِيدِ الْعِقَابِ ذِى الطَّوْلِ لاَ إِلَـهَ
إِلاَّ هُوَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ ﴾
(Ha Mim. `Ain Sin Qaf. Likewise Allah, the Almighty, the Wise sends revelation
to you (O Muhammad ) as (He sent revelation to) those before you.) (42:1-3).
There are several other Ayat that testify to what we have mentioned above, and
Allah knows best.
﴿ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴾
(2. That is Book in which there is no Rayb, guidance for the Muttaqin).
