الٓمٓ 1
Translations
Alif, Lām, Meem.
Transliteration
Alif-Lam-Meem
Tafsir (Explanation)
These are the opening isolated letters (Huruf Muqatta'at) of Surah Al-Ankabut, whose meaning is known only to Allah (Allahu A'lam). Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that these letters were well-known to the Arabs of that time and served to capture their attention to the Quranic message that follows. Some scholars suggest they affirm the miraculous nature of the Quran, as it is composed of the same Arabic letters the Arabs used, yet they could not produce anything like it.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ankabut is a Meccan surah revealed during a period of intense persecution of Muslims. These opening letters appear at the beginning of the surah to draw the attention of the pagan Meccans to the divine message about faith, trials, and steadfastness that follows. The surah deals with testing believers and the need for patience in faith.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly explains these letters, Uthman ibn Affan reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said the Quran was revealed in seven modes (ahruf), relating to the linguistic variations in Quranic recitation. (Sahih Bukhari 4992). Additionally, the Quran's inimitability (I'jaz) is a major theme in hadith literature emphasizing these letters' role in the Quran's miraculous nature.
Themes
Key Lesson
These opening letters remind us that the Quran contains divine mysteries whose full wisdom may be beyond our complete understanding, yet we are called to reflect upon and act according to what has been clearly explained to us. They also underscore the Quran's miraculous nature and challenge us to recognize its divine origin despite being composed in human language.