Al-Huruf al-Muqatta'a: Difference between revisions

'''Al-huruf al-muqatta'a''' or '''disjoined letters''' consist of one or more letters with which 29 [[sura]]s of the [[Qur'an]] open after [[Bism Allah al-Rahman al-Rahim]]. These letters are recited separately, such as {{ia|ألم}} at the opening of [[Sura al-Baqara]] is recited as "alif – lam – mim."

Except Suras of al-Baqara and [[Al 'Imran]], all other Suras opening with disjoined letters are [[Makki]] (they were revealed in Mecca). Some of the Suras opening with disjoined letters include: [[al-A'raf]], [[Yunus]], [[Hud]], [[Maryam]], [[Taha]], [[Qisas]], [[Ghafir]], and [[Qalam]].

Scholars and researchers of the Qur'an have offered different interpretations of the disjoined letters and written independent books and essays about them. According to [[Allama Tabataba'i]], the disjoined letters are secrets between God and the [[Prophet (s)]], and so no one knows about them except the Prophet. Such an account of the disjoined letters appears in a [[hadith]] from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] as well. These letters are also interpreted as signs of the miracle of the Qur'an, God's [[Greatest Name]], and so on.