ABSOLUTE LETTERS

LESSON # 15 HOLY QUR’AAN

BAQARAH - 2

ABSOLUTE LETTERS

Verse – 1 of 286, section -1

‘A-‘uu-zu  Billahi minash-Shaytaanir-Rajiim

Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

‘ALIF-LAAAM-MIIIM

Alif. Lam. Mim.

Lesson In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.           Sura Baqarah begins from above three letters. These letters are called “Muqat-ti-‘aat”. I am sorry! I could not find translation of the word “Muqat-ti-aat.” So I translated it as ‘Absolute’ letters. If I am wrong, I pray from the GOD to forgive me. The letters Alif-Laaam-Miiim are written collected but are read separately. The three letters have come in the beginning of five more Suras excluding ‘Baqarah’ (The Cow). Besides these three letters some other letters have also come in the beginning of some different Suras of the Holy Qur’aan. The Suras which begin with this type of letters are twenty nine in numbers.          If we say, what are the meanings of Alif-Laaam-Miiim? Nobody can reply absolutely. Because it is Secret out of the Secrets of The GOD. Only ALLAH, HIS Messenger (Peace be upon Him), the companions of the Messenger (Allah agreed upon them) and Scholars of the Muslim nation know its meanings. Different Saints tried to explain it according to their personal manners. For instance:-        Sayyidina ibn ‘Abbas said that the GOD says, “I am ALLAH, Who knows the best.” One saint says, “Alif means ALLAH, who revealed the Holy Book. Laaam means the arch Angel Gabriel (Compliments upon Him), who brought the revelation of ALLAH, and Miiim means The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him)on whom this Holy Book ‘Qur’aan’ was revealed through the Angel Gabriel (Compliments upon Him).        A young Egyptian Scholar Sayyad Nasooh Zahir told after counting and trusting on the alphabetical letters that actually number of verses of the Suras is mentioned in the letters. An other research scholar said that there are historical events with days and years discussed in these letters, which are held in that particular Surah.        Briefly, the knowledge of these letters found by the saints, research scholars and philosophers have been told us. These kinds of letters were already in use in the Arabic language before Islam. To them each person who has knowledge of Arabic knows perfectly. Besides Arabic, this custom of use also exists in other languages like English, Persian, Urdu etc for example: BA, MA, LLB, UNO, IMF ETC. These instances are very famous but even till some people don’t know them. Only those persons know them, who belong to them or have any interest with them.        GOD gave us chance to learn and understand the Holy Qur’aan. It is our duty to try to understand the speech of GOD, act upon it and spread its science, acts and arts nearby and far. Solution of all the Problems of the world over may be found in this speech.                             Transliteration in Roman Script, English Translation by Marmaduke Pickthall and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore & translated By Muhammad Sharif Fauji