الٓمٓ 1
Translations
Alif, Lām, Meem.
Transliteration
Alif Lam Meem
Tafsir (Explanation)
These are the Huruf Muqatta'ah (Disjoined Letters) that open Surah Ar-Rum, whose meanings are known only to Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that these letters serve multiple purposes: they capture attention, affirm the miraculous nature of the Quran (composed of these same letters), and test the believers' acceptance of revelation. The surah itself goes on to discuss the Byzantine-Persian conflict and signs of Allah's dominion, making these opening letters a powerful introduction to divine mysteries.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rum was revealed during the Meccan period when the Muslims were facing persecution. The surah's opening with these mysterious letters is followed by prophecies about the Romans' victory, which serves to encourage the believers by demonstrating Allah's knowledge of the unseen. The disjoined letters themselves appear at the beginning of 29 surahs and remain among the greatest signs (ayat) whose interpretation is exclusively with Allah.
Related Hadiths
Imam Muslim reports from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding the Huruf Muqatta'ah: 'The Quran was revealed to me, and with it I was given something like it.' This indicates the profound significance of these letters. Additionally, scholars cite the general principle from various hadith collections that one should not speculate excessively about matters whose knowledge belongs solely to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
When confronted with divine mysteries beyond human comprehension, the believer should respond with humble acceptance rather than excessive speculation, recognizing that Allah's wisdom encompasses all knowledge. This teaches us to trust in the completeness and authenticity of the Quranic message even when certain aspects remain beyond our understanding.