يسٓ 1
Translations
Yā, Seen.
Transliteration
Ya-Seen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This is one of the Quranic initials (Huruf Muqatta'at) whose exact meaning is known only to Allah, though scholars have offered various interpretations. Ibn Kathir notes that these letters are mentioned at the beginning of certain surahs to draw attention and establish the miraculous nature of the Qur'an, which is composed of these same letters that the Arabs used in their language. Al-Tabari mentions that 'Ya-Seen' may be an oath by which Allah swears, or it serves as a call to attention ('O mankind') before the surah's message unfolds.
Revelation Context
Surah Ya-Sin is a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of the Prophet's mission, addressing the polytheists of Mecca with proofs of Allah's oneness and the reality of resurrection. The initials at the beginning serve as a rhetorical device to capture the audience's attention before presenting the surah's central themes of tawhid (monotheism) and akhirah (the afterlife).
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly explains these specific letters, Abu Bakr al-Suyuti records in his Itqan that the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited the Qur'an with proper emphasis on its verses, including these openings. The general principle is found in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet emphasized the importance of reciting the entire Qur'an.
Themes
Key Lesson
These mysterious initials remind believers that the Qur'an contains depths of meaning beyond human comprehension, encouraging us to approach the divine text with humility and reverence while recognizing that complete understanding of all divine matters belongs only to Allah.