Why Do Some Suras Start with Disjointed Letters? What Do They Mean? – Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
Why do some suras begin with the disjointed letters (al-Huruf al-Muqatta‘a), and what do they mean?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
The Disjointed Letters (Al-Huruf al-Muqatta‘a) in the Quran
The disjointed letters (al-Huruf al-Muqatta‘a) are the alphabetic letters with which some suras of the Quran begin. They appear in twenty-nine suras, such as “Alif Lam Meem” (ألم), “Kaf Ha Ya ‘Ain Sad” (كهيعص), “Ha Meem” (حم), “Ta Ha” (طه), and “Ya Sin” (يس)…. Scholars have mentioned many reasons for the beginning of some surahs with these letters.
Wisdom Behind the Disjointed Letters
Imam Suyuti, quoting Imam Zarkashi, mentioned some wisdom behind this, saying:
“The opening of the suras with the disjointed letters and the specificity of each one with what it was started with, so that ‘Alif Lam Meem’ (ألم) is not found in the place of ‘Alif Lam Ra’ (ألر), nor ‘Ha Mim’ (حم) in the place of ‘Ta Sin’ (طس). This is because each sura that begins with a letter, most of its words and letters resemble it. Thus, each sura should not have anything other than what is mentioned in it. If ‘Qaf’ (ق) were placed in the position of ‘Nun’ (ن), it would not be suitable, due to the necessary harmony observed in the words of Allah…” [Suyuti, Mu‘tarak al-Aqran, al-Itqan]
This opinion is strengthened by the fact that it is customary in the Noble Quran to mention something related to the Quran after these letters, as in His saying:
“Alif Lam Mim. This is the Book!” [Quran, 2:1-2], “Ya Sin. By the Quran, rich in wisdom!” [Quran, 36:1-2], “Ta Ha. We have not revealed the Quran to you (O Prophet) to cause you distress.” [Quran, 20:1-2]…, except in three suras: Ankabut, Rum, and Qaf, where nothing related to it is mentioned. [Suyuti, Mu‘tarak al-Aqran]
Highlighting the Miraculous Nature of the Quran
Some scholars say that the opening of the suras with the disjointed letters is to highlight the miraculous nature of the Quran. The Quran is composed of these very letters that form the basis of all speech: (Alif, Lam, Meem, Ra, Sad, Ta, Ha, Ya, Ain, Qaf). It is made up of letters, words, suras, and verses.
In reality, understanding the wisdom behind the opening of these suras with these letters is linked to grasping their meanings. Scholars have varied in their views on this. Zarkashi said that people have differed regarding the disjointed letters at the beginning of the suras into two opinions:
- The first is that this is concealed knowledge and a hidden secret that Allah alone possesses. This is why Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) said:
“In every book, there is a secret, and its secret in the Quran is the beginnings of the suras.”
Sha‘bi said: “They are among the ambiguous verses, we believe in their outward meaning and leave the knowledge of them to Allah (Most High).” - The second opinion is that their meaning is known, and they mentioned more than twenty views on it, some being distant and others being close. He mentioned some of these opinions. [Zarkashi, al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]
Most scholars among the interpreters and linguists have said that these letters are names for the suras that begin with them, and they were named after them. [Abu al-Su‘ud, Tafsir Abu al-Su‘ud; Suyuti, al-Itqan]
Evidence from the Sunna
There is also evidence from the Sunna that supports this view. For example, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to recite during the Fajr prayer on Fridays:
“Alif-Lam-Mim, Tanzil… (Surat al-Sajda) and Hal ata ‘al al-Insani… (Surat al-Insan).” [Muslim]
Some scholars have mentioned that the purpose of these letters is to indicate and point to the miraculous nature of the Quran. It is as if the Quran is addressing the Arabs, who are masters of eloquence, by saying that 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 divine in origin, you would not be unable to match it. [Zuhayli, Tafsir al-Munir]
Opinions on the Disjointed Letters
Ibn Qutayba responded to those who said that these disjointed letters are among the ambiguous matters whose knowledge is exclusive to Allah (Most High), by saying:
“If the only benefit for the deeply knowledgeable scholars in ambiguous matters were to say: ‘We believe in this (Quran)—it is all from our Lord.’ [Quran, 3:7], then the knowledgeable scholars would have no advantage over the learners or even the ignorant Muslims because they all say: ‘We believe in this (Quran)—it is all from our Lord.’”
He also said: “We have not seen the interpreters refrain from explaining any part of the Quran by saying: ‘This is ambiguous, known only to Allah.’ Rather, they interpreted all of it, including the disjointed letters. Ibn ‘Abbas said: ‘I know the meanings of all the Quran except four words: Ghislin, Hanan, al-Awwa, and al-Raqim. This was the statement of Ibn ‘Abbas at one time, and then he learned their meanings later.” [Ibn Qutayba, Ta’wil Mushkil al-Quran, al-Masa’il wa al-Ajwiba fi al-Hadith wa al-Tafsir; Baqillani, al-Intisar li al-Quran ]
Ibn Qutayba mentioned many opinions in interpreting the disjointed letters. He said:
“Some of them considered them to be names of the suras, each sura being known by its opening letters. Others considered them to be oaths. Some thought they were letters derived from the attributes of Allah (Most High), with many attributes combined in a single opening, such as Ibn ‘Abbas’s statement regarding ‘Kaf Ha Ya Ain Sad’ [Quran, 19:1]: ‘The “Kaf” is from Kafī (sufficient), the “Ha” from Hadi (guide), the “Ya” from Hakim (wise), the “‘Ain” from ‘Alim (knowledgeable), and the “Sad” from Sadiq (truthful).’ Kalbi said it means: ‘A book that is sufficient, guiding, wise, knowledgeable, and truthful…’
Explaining the reason why they might be oaths, Ibn Qutayba said:
‘Allah swore by the alphabet letters due to their honor and virtue, as they are the building blocks of His revealed books in different languages, the foundations of His beautiful names and sublime attributes, and the basis of the speech of nations, through which they recognize each other, mention Allah, and affirm His oneness.’” [Ibn Qutayba, Ta’wil Mushkil al-Quran; Makki Ibn Abi Talib, al-Hidaya ila Bulugh al-Nihayah]
Summary
Whether we understand the wisdom behind the opening of some suras with the disjointed letters or not, the Quran remains our book, our constitution, our guide, our protection, our elevation, our path to happiness, and our way to safety. Praise be to Allah for the blessing of the Quran, with much good and blessed praise.
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
