How Should the Disjointed Letters at the Beginning of Suras Be Recited?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

How do we correctly recite the disjointed letters at the beginning of certain Suras in the Quran?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

Disjointed Letters (Al-Huruf Al-Muqatta‘a)

The disjointed letters (known as al-Huruf al-Muqatta‘a) are the letters of the Arabic alphabet that appear at the beginning of twenty-nine Suras of the Quran.

These disjointed letters are arranged in the Quran according to the order of the Suras in which they appear, as follows:

“Alif-Lam-Mim (الم), Alif-Lam-Mim (الم), Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad (المص), Alif-Lam-Ra (الر), Alif-Lam-Ra (الر), Alif-Lam-Ra (الر), Alif-Lam-Mim-Ra (المر), Alif-Lam-Ra (الر), Alif-Lam-Ra (الر), Kaf-Ha-Ya-‘Ayn-Sad (كهيعص), Ta-Ha (طه), Ta-Sin-Mim (طسم), Ta-Sin (طس), Ta-Sin-Mim (طسم), Alif-Lam-Mim (الم), Alif-Lam-Mim (الم), Alif-Lam-Mim (الم), Alif-Lam-Mim (الم), Ya-Sin (يس), Sad (ص), Ha-Mim (حم), Ha-Mim (حم), Ha-Mim (حم), Ha-Mim (حم), Ha-Mim (حم), Ha-Mim (حم), Ha-Mim-‘Ayn-Sin-Qaf (حم عسق), Qaf (ق), Nun (ن).”

Here is the detailed breakdown of the Suras in which these letters appear:

• “Alif-Lam-Mim (الم)”: This appears at the beginning of six Suras: Baqara, Al-‘Imran, ‘Ankabut, aRum, Luqman, and Sajda.
• “Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad (المص)”: This appears at the beginning of A‘raf only.
• “Alif-Lam-Ra (الر)”: This appears at the beginning of four Suras: Yunus, Hud, Yusuf, Ibrahim, and Hijr.
• “Alif-Lam-Mim-Ra (المر)”: This appears at the beginning of Ra‘d only.
• “Kaf-Ha-Ya-‘Ayn-Sad (كهيعص)”: This appears at the beginning of Maryam only.
• “Ta-Ha (طه)”: This appears at the beginning of Ta-Ha.
• “Ta-Sin-Mim (طسم)”: This appears at the beginning of Shu‘ara’, Qasas.
• “Ta-Sin (طس)”: This appears at the beginning of Naml only.
• “Ya-Sin (يس)”: This appears at the beginning of Ya-Sin only.
• “Sad (ص)”: This appears at the beginning of Sad only.
• “Ha-Mim (حم)”: This appears at the beginning of six Suras: Ghafir, Fussilat, Zukhruf, Dukhan, Jathiyah, and Ahqaf.
• “Ha-Mim-‘Ayn-Sin-Qaf (حم عسق)”: This appears at the beginning of Shura.
• “Qaf (ق)”: This appears at the beginning of Qaf only.
• “Nun (ن)”: This appears at the beginning of Qalam only. [See: Jarmi, Mu‘ajam ‘Ulum al-Quran]

The Number of Disjointed Letters

When examining these disjointed letters, we find that their total count, including repetitions, is seventy-eight letters. Without repetition, the number of distinct letters is fourteen, which are summarized in the phrase:

“Nass Hakim Qat‘an Lahu Sirr” (نَصٌّ حكيمٌ قطعاً لهُ سرّ).

How the Disjointed Letters are Written

These letters are written according to their names, meaning their full forms are inscribed.

How the Disjointed Letters are Recited

The recitation of these letters is by their names, not by their sounds. This means we recite the spelling of these letters as follows:

• (الم): The spelling of these letters is Alif, Lam, Mim.
• (المص): The spelling of these letters is Alif, Lam, Mim, Sad.
• (الر): The spelling is Alif, Lam, Ra.
• (المر): The spelling is Alif, Lam, Mim, Ra.
• (كهيعص)”: The spelling is Kaf, Ha, Ya, ‘Ayn, Sad.
• (طه): The spelling is Ta, Ha.
• (طسم): The spelling is Ta, Sin, Mim.
• (طس): The spelling is Ta, Sin.
• (يس): The spelling is Ya, Sin.
• (ص): The spelling is Sad.
• (حم): The spelling is Ha, Mim.
• (ق): The spelling is Qaf.
• (ن): The spelling is Nun.

These letters have a specific pronunciation, and the rules of Tajwid must be applied, such as elongation (Madd), assimilation (Idgham), and concealment (Ikhfa’).

Classification of the Disjointed Letters Based on Their Spelling

Scholars have categorized these disjointed letters according to the number of letters in their spelling into two types:

• First Type: Letters whose spelling consists of three letters.
• Second Type: Letters whose spelling consists of two letters.

Letters Spelled with Two Letters

The letters that are spelled with two letters are Ha’ (الحاء), Ya’ (الياء), Ta’ (الطاء), Ha’ (الهاء), and Ra’ (الراء). These are summarized in the phrase “Hayyun Tahur” (حَيٌّ طَهُر).

Letters Spelled with Three Letters

The letters that are spelled with three letters are Sin (السين), Nun (النون), Qaf (القاف), Sad (الصاد), Lam (اللام), Kaf (الكاف), and Mim (الميم). These are summarized in the phrase “Sanaqussu Lakum” (سَنَقُصُّ لَكُم).

Pronunciation of Letters Spelled with Two Letters

For the letters spelled with two letters, the elongation (madd) in them is extended by two counts (harakat), as follows:

“Ṭa-Ha (طه)”: The letter Ta’ (ط) is spelled with two letters: Ta’ and the vowel letter Alif (ا) which is a silent Alif preceded by a Fatha, thus it is extended by two counts: (Tā). Similarly, the letter Ha’ (ه) is spelled with two letters: Ha’ and the vowel letter Alif (ا), so it is extended by two counts: (Hā).

“Ra’ (ر)” in “Alif-Lam-Ra (الر)”: The letter Ra’ (ر) is spelled with two letters: Ra’ and the vowel letter Alif (ا), so it is extended by two counts: (Rā).

Pronunciation of Letters Spelled with Three Letters

For the letters whose spelling consists of three letters, the elongation is extended by six counts (harakat) by necessity, due to the presence of a silent letter after the vowel letter, as in the following:

“Qaf (ق)”: The letter Qaf (ق) is spelled with three letters: Qaf, the vowel letter Alif (ا) which is a silent Alif preceded by a Fatha, and a silent Fa’ (ف). The vowel letter (Alif) is extended by six counts by necessity: (Qāāāf).

Pronunciation of Other Letters with Tajwid Rules

For the other letters that are not elongated, when they appear together, we apply the known rules of Tajwid. For example:

Alif-Lam-Mim (الم)

• Alif (ألف): It is recited as it is pronounced without any specific Tajwid rule applied.
• Lam (لام): Here, Lam with Fatha is followed by a vowel letter Alif (ا) which is a silent Alif preceded by a Fatha, and after the vowel letter comes a silent Mim (م). The Tajwid rule applied here is Madd Lazim (necessary elongation), where the vowel letter (Alif) is extended by six counts due to the following silent letter: (Lāāām).
• Mim (ميم): Mim with Kasra is followed by a vowel letter Ya’ (ي) which is a silent Ya’ preceded by a Kasra, and after the vowel letter comes a silent Mim (م). The Tajwid rule applied here is also Madd Lazim (necessary elongation), where the vowel letter (Ya’) is extended by six counts due to the following silent letter: (Mīīīm).
• When reciting “Alif-Lam-Mim (الم)” as follows: (Alif Lāāām Mīīīm), we observe that two identical letters meet—the silent Mim (مْ) from the spelling of (Lāmْ) and the broken Mim (مِ) from the spelling of (Mīm). It is well-known that when two identical letters meet, where the first is silent and the second is vocalized, they must be merged (idgham), causing them to become a single, emphasized letter (Lāmّ). Therefore, the Tajwid rule that arises from the juxtaposition of these letters is Madd Lazim Harfi Muthaqal (obligatory elongation due to the merging of identical letters). Thus, the silent Alif is extended by six counts (harakat) by necessity.

The final recitation proceeds as follows: First, we recite (Alifْ) without applying any specific rule. Then, we recite (Lāāāmْ) extending the Alif by six counts. After that, we apply idgham with ghunna (nasalization) between the two identical letters (Mْ Mِ = Mِّ). Finally, we transition from the nasalization arising from the idgham to the vowel letter Ya’ (ي), extending it by six counts: (Mīīīmْ). Thus, the pronunciation becomes: (Alifْ Lāāāām Mīīīm).

Note: Although I have simplified this explanation as much as possible, no explanation, however simplified, can replace the importance of reciting these letters under the guidance of a qualified Tajwid teacher. A teacher can correctly demonstrate the pronunciation, the points of idgham (merging), ikhfa’ (concealment), and the required elongation for each vowel letter.

I also advise the questioner to review the rules of Tajwid, particularly the rules of Madd Lazim in both its forms: Madd Lazim Kalimi (word-based elongation, both heavy and light) and Madd Lazim Harfi (letter-based elongation, both heavy and light).

Benefit

Many scholars among the interpreters and linguists have stated that the disjointed letters are the names of the Suras that begin with them, and these Suras were named after them.

This is supported by the fact that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to recite in the Fajr prayer on Friday: “Alif-Lam-Mim, The Revelation of this Book is…” (Surat al-Sajda), and “Is there not a period of time when each human is nothing yet worth mentioning?” (Surat al-Insan). [Muslim]

Some scholars have mentioned that the purpose of the disjointed letters is to signify the miraculous nature of the Quran. It is as if the Quran is addressing the Arabs, who were masters of eloquence, saying:

“This Quran is composed of the very letters you use in your speech, yet you are unable to produce anything like it. If it were not of divine origin, it would not have rendered you incapable of matching it.” [Suyuti, Mu‘tarak al-Aqran, al-Itqan]

Finally, whether we grasp the wisdom behind the disconnected letters or not, the Quran remains our book, our constitution, our guiding light. It will always be a source of protection, elevation, guidance, happiness, and security. Praise be to Allah for the blessing of the Quran, a praise that is pure, abundant, and blessed.

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa