Can you explain to us the meaning ---the litters in the surar al-qouran
Is it a magical charms -
What do you mean these letters ----
What's the point of them ----
Peace be on all.
Following are important points about Huruf e Muqatteat i.e. the letters at the beginning of some chapters of Holy Quran. These points are based on explanation by Second Ahmadiyya Khalifah (r.a.)s Tafseer e Kabir Volume 1 (alislam.org).
1- These letters are spoken separately, therefore they are called muqatteat.
2- They are mentioned 1 to 5 in numbers before the chapters of Holy Quran.
3- They represent those attribute(s) of Allah the Exalted, which are latter described in a certain chapter / surah.
4- When these letters change, the subject matter of chapters changes.
5- i-- If a chapter starts with certain letters, and next chapters do not start with any, it means letter-less chapters are about existing subject matter of chapter with letter.
ii-- If letters are same in some chapters, it means these chapters are stringed together subject-wise.
Therefore, from chapter 2 (al-Baqarah) to chapter 9 (al-Taubah) there is same subject and these chapters belong to to alif-laam-meem i.e. annallaho alamo (I am Allah, the All-Knowing).
Chapter 2 (al-Baqarah) starts with alif-laam-meem.
Chapter 3 (al-Imran) starts with alif-laam-meem too.
Chapter 4 (al-Nisa), Chapter 5 (al-Maidah), Chapter 6 (al-Anam) have no letters / muqatteat. Thus they are under the previous chapters which start with alif-laam-meem.
Chapter 7 (Araf) starts with alif-laam-meem-suad . One letter is added, it represent Sadiq.
Chapter 8 (Anfal) and chapter 9 (al-Taubah or Braah) have no letters / muqatteat.
Therefore, the subject related to alif-laam-meem start at chapter 2 (al-Baqarah) and continues till chapter 9 (al-Taubah or Braah).
Chapter 7 (Araf) has additional suad which represents approval or testimony. Chapter 7 (Araf) mention success of Holy Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be on him) and progress of Islam in principle and Chapter 8 (Anfal) and chapter 9 (al-Taubah or Braah) mention it in detail.
Chapter 10 (Yunus) starts with alif-laam-raa. Here subject is changed. The difference: From ch 2 (al-Baqarah) to ch 9 (al-Taubah) discussion is from the point of view of knowledge but from Chapter 10 (Yunus) to Chapter 18 (al-Kahf) discussion is with respect to events and their results. That is why it is said:
alif-laam-raa i.e. annallaho araa (I am Allah Who Sees everything). It means: I am Allah Who has all history in view and I bring this Word for you. So previous chapters with alif-laam-meem are under the divine attribute All-Knowing and latter chapters are under the divine attribute All-Viewing.
6The chapters which start with muqatteat, their subject starts with mention of divine revelation. In many clear mention of Book or Quran is present.
7-- The muqatteat also throw light on history and era as prediction.
8-- This muqatteat approach is NOT NEW FOR ARABS. This method was present in Arabs. Their great poets used this method. For example:
An Arab poet said:
bil khairey khiratun wa in sharra
faa (I will do virtue for virtue but if you desire to do evil, I am ready for that too)
wa la oreedush sharra illa an
taa (I have no wish for evil unless you want it)
In this couplet, faa is used for word fasharun and taa is used for word tashao.
Modern day use of muqatteat: The educational degrees are example of it, e.g, B.A. , M.A., M.D. etc
People use it and get benefit.