The so-called ‘abbreviated letters’ are an important section of what is known as Mutashabihat, i.e. what is cut. It is another regular feature in the Qur’an. A glance through the chapters of the Qur’an would show that some begin with Arabic alphabets, two, three, or more.
In technical language, Mutashabihat is used for certain letters found at the beginning of several suwar of the Qur’an, called the abbreviated letters’. To some, these letters could just be the style of the Qur’an but indeed this forms an important topic under the science of Qur’an.
As for the frequency of these letters, there are fourteen such letters occurring in various combinations at the beginning of 29 suwar. The following is a list of their occurrence and distribution in the Qur’an:
- Alif Lam Rah - Chapters 10, 11, 12, 14, 15
- Alif Lam Mim - Chapters 2, 3, 29, 30
- Alif lam Mim Ra - chapters 13, 31, 32,
- Alif Lam Mim sad – chapters 7
- Ha Mim – chapters 40,41,43,44,45,46.
- Sad -chapters 38
- Ta Sin – chapters 27
- Ta Sin Mim – chapters 26, 28
- Ta Ha– chapters 20
- Qaf – Chapters 50
- Qaf ya aim sad- chapters 19
- Nun – chapter 68
- Ya sin – chapters 36.
The meaning and purpose of these letters are uncertain. However, some scholars offered some explanations regarding their meanings and imports. Some held the view that these letters might be abbreviations for certain sentences and words, such as for example Alif Lam Mim meaning Allahu A’lam or Nur meaning (light) etc.
Other scholars are of the view that these letters are not abbreviations but symbols and names of Allah, or something else. Some even held the view that these alphabets have some numerical significance, as the semantic letters have numerical value. Another group of scholars are of the view that these letters were used to attract the attention of the Prophet (and later his audience) for the revelation to follow.
One significance of these alphabets is that they are followed immediately by a verse that talks about the Qur’an, which again emphasizes that the alphabets are symbols of the unique nature and style of the Qur’an..
What you should know is that the meaning of the letters are known to Allah S.W.T alone and only He can explain them better. The Qur’an says of these letters
“... these are the symbols of the perspicuous book.”
(Qur’an 12:1).
In technical language, Mutashabihat is used for certain letters found at the beginning of several suwar of the Qur’an, called the abbreviated letters’. To some, these letters could just be the style of the Qur’an but indeed this forms an important topic under the science of Qur’an.
As for the frequency of these letters, there are fourteen such letters occurring in various combinations at the beginning of 29 suwar. The following is a list of their occurrence and distribution in the Qur’an:
- Alif Lam Rah - Chapters 10, 11, 12, 14, 15
- Alif Lam Mim - Chapters 2, 3, 29, 30
- Alif lam Mim Ra - chapters 13, 31, 32,
- Alif Lam Mim sad – chapters 7
- Ha Mim – chapters 40,41,43,44,45,46.
- Sad -chapters 38
- Ta Sin – chapters 27
- Ta Sin Mim – chapters 26, 28
- Ta Ha– chapters 20
- Qaf – Chapters 50
- Qaf ya aim sad- chapters 19
- Nun – chapter 68
- Ya sin – chapters 36.
The meaning and purpose of these letters are uncertain. However, some scholars offered some explanations regarding their meanings and imports. Some held the view that these letters might be abbreviations for certain sentences and words, such as for example Alif Lam Mim meaning Allahu A’lam or Nur meaning (light) etc.
Other scholars are of the view that these letters are not abbreviations but symbols and names of Allah, or something else. Some even held the view that these alphabets have some numerical significance, as the semantic letters have numerical value. Another group of scholars are of the view that these letters were used to attract the attention of the Prophet (and later his audience) for the revelation to follow.
One significance of these alphabets is that they are followed immediately by a verse that talks about the Qur’an, which again emphasizes that the alphabets are symbols of the unique nature and style of the Qur’an..
What you should know is that the meaning of the letters are known to Allah S.W.T alone and only He can explain them better. The Qur’an says of these letters
“... these are the symbols of the perspicuous book.”
(Qur’an 12:1).