سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 1
الٓمٓ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Alif-Lâm-Mîm. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings.]
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
الٓمٓ
alif-lam-meem
Alif Laam Meem
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
This is one of the seven longest Surahs of the Noble Qur’an, regarding whose importance the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ مَنْ اَخَذَ السَّبْعَ الْأُوَلَ فَهُوَ حَبْرٌ ] “Whoever has acquired these seven Surahs has become a great scholar of religion.” [ مسند أحمد :82/6، ح : ۲۴۵۸۵، عن عائشۃ رضی اللہ عنھا، و إسنادہ حسن ] This Surah contains many admonitions, rulings, and stories. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called it the {’’ سَنَامُ الْقُرْآنِ‘‘} (the hump of the Qur’an). [ مسند أبی یعلٰی : ۷۵۱۶۔ الصحیحۃ: ۵۸۸، عن سہل بن سعد رضی اللہ عنہ ] And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not make your houses graves; indeed, Satan does not enter the house in which Surah Al-Baqarah is recited.” [ ترمذی، فضائل القرآن، باب ما جاء فی فضل سورۃ البقرۃ … : ۲۸۷۷، عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ، و صححہ الألبانی ] In another narration: “Satan flees from that house.” [ مسلم، صلوۃ المسافرین، باب استحباب صلوۃ النافلۃ: ۷۸۰ عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ] Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Recite the two radiant Surahs, Al-Baqarah and Aal-e-Imran, for they will come on the Day of Resurrection as two clouds, or two canopies, or two flocks of birds, pleading for their companions. Recite Surah Al-Baqarah, for acquiring it is a blessing, abandoning it is a cause of regret, and the people of falsehood cannot withstand it.” [ مسلم، صلاۃ المسافرین، باب فضل قراءۃ القرآن و سورۃ البقرۃ : ۸۰۴ ] Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah An-Nisa were revealed when I was with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). [ بخاری، فضائل القرآن، باب تالیف القرآن : ۴۹۹۳ ]
(Ayah 1) {الٓمّٓ}: The letters that appear at the beginning of some Surahs are called “Muqatta’at” because they are recited separately. Their meaning is clear in that they are the names of the letters of the alphabet, so it cannot be said that there are words in the Noble Qur’an that have no meaning at all. However, as to why these letters are brought at the beginning of the Surahs, there is nothing authentically transmitted from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) or the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) with a Sahih chain. Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) has narrated from the four Caliphs and Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with them) that these letters are a divine secret known only to Allah, but neither did Qurtubi mention its chain nor could it be found elsewhere. Various interpretations are narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and some Tabi’een regarding their explanation, but none are established with authentic chains. Some scholars have presented certain points from themselves in their explanation, but these are merely technical efforts and have no relation to reality.
The closest opinion seems to be that by mentioning these letters, the whole world is challenged that Allah has revealed the Noble Qur’an in these very letters of the alphabet. If you doubt its divine origin, these letters are also in your knowledge and use, so bring forth a Surah like it. The evidence for this is that generally, wherever these letters appear, mention of the Noble Qur’an, the Book, or Revelation follows. Ibn Kathir has mentioned this view from Farra’, Mubarrad, Zamakhshari, and other scholars, as well as Ibn Taymiyyah. However, the matter still remains that the letters at the beginning of each Surah have a special connection with that Surah, for example, at the beginning of some Surahs is { الٓمّٓ }, while at the beginning of other Surahs is { الرٰ } or {طٰس}, etc. The reality is that reaching the wisdom behind this is beyond our capacity, and there is no choice but to accept that these are among the Mutashabihat (ambiguous matters) whose true meaning Allah alone knows best.
(Ayah 1) {الٓمّٓ}: The letters that appear at the beginning of some Surahs are called “Muqatta’at” because they are recited separately. Their meaning is clear in that they are the names of the letters of the alphabet, so it cannot be said that there are words in the Noble Qur’an that have no meaning at all. However, as to why these letters are brought at the beginning of the Surahs, there is nothing authentically transmitted from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) or the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) with a Sahih chain. Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) has narrated from the four Caliphs and Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with them) that these letters are a divine secret known only to Allah, but neither did Qurtubi mention its chain nor could it be found elsewhere. Various interpretations are narrated from Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and some Tabi’een regarding their explanation, but none are established with authentic chains. Some scholars have presented certain points from themselves in their explanation, but these are merely technical efforts and have no relation to reality.
The closest opinion seems to be that by mentioning these letters, the whole world is challenged that Allah has revealed the Noble Qur’an in these very letters of the alphabet. If you doubt its divine origin, these letters are also in your knowledge and use, so bring forth a Surah like it. The evidence for this is that generally, wherever these letters appear, mention of the Noble Qur’an, the Book, or Revelation follows. Ibn Kathir has mentioned this view from Farra’, Mubarrad, Zamakhshari, and other scholars, as well as Ibn Taymiyyah. However, the matter still remains that the letters at the beginning of each Surah have a special connection with that Surah, for example, at the beginning of some Surahs is { الٓمّٓ }, while at the beginning of other Surahs is { الرٰ } or {طٰس}, etc. The reality is that reaching the wisdom behind this is beyond our capacity, and there is no choice but to accept that these are among the Mutashabihat (ambiguous matters) whose true meaning Allah alone knows best.
