The first word of Quran is ALIF-LAAM-MEEM. What does it mean?

Question

I have read Quran with its meaning. I have studies few Tafseerul Quran by renowned scholars. No one could specify the totality, its origin, the word spoken in those days in the territory where Quranic verses were blessed. Yet I am inquisitive to know the meaning of this word Alif Laam Meem. Was it a title to address holy prophet Mohammad (pbuh), was it a name given to him by Allah to Mohammad or by Gabriel, was it a way in that society to address some one in those days or was it a nick name given by Him to HIS beloved prophet Mohammad? I remember studying somewhere a scholar travelled to that part of the world to find the meanings of this one word, living in small villages and enquiring the elders but failed to gather that this word was ever used in their slang language in olden days. May be you could enlighten me to its deterimental meanings with its references in details to go further to find more books in this context. Thanks.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Why do certain Surahs in the Qur’an begin with Alif Laam Meem, Haa Meem, Yaa Seen. What is the significance of such terms or phrases?
Answer:
1. Abbreviated Letters
Alif Laam Meem, Ya Seen, Ha Meem’, etc. are known as Al-Muqattaat i.e. the abbreviated letters. There are 29 letters in the Arabic Alphabet (if hamza and alif are considered as two letters) and there are 29 surahs i.e. chapters in the Glorious Qur’an that have the abbreviated letters prefixed to them. These abbreviated letters some times occur alone, sometimes in a combination of two letters and sometimes in a combination of three, four or five letters.
2. Meanings of these abbreviated letters
The meaning and purpose of these letters is uncertain. There have been a variety of explanations offered by Muslim scholars through the ages. A few among them are:
i. These letters might be abbreviations for certain sentences and words for instance, Alif Laam Meem means Ana-Alahu -a’Laam or Nun meaning Noor (light), etc.
ii. These letters are not abbreviations but symbols and names of Allah or something else.
iii. These letters were used for rhyming.
iv. These letters have some numerical significance as the semitic letters also have numerical values.
v. These letters were used to attract the attention of the Prophet (and later his audience).
Several volumes have been written on the significance of these abbreviations.
3. Best explanation of abbreviated letters:
Of all the explanations given by various scholars, the one which is authentic and also supported by Tafsir of Ibne-Kathir, Zamakshari and Ibne-Taiymiyah is the following:
The human body is composed of various fundamental elements that are found in nature. Clay and dust are composed of the same fundamental elements. Yet it would be absurd to say that a human being is exactly the same as the dust.
We can all have access to the elements that are found in the human body, and add a few gallons of water, which is the constitution of the human body. We know the elements in the human body and yet we are at a loss when asked the secret of life.
Similarly the Qur’an addresses those people who reject its Divine authority. It tells them that this Qur’an, is in your own language, and over which the Arabs took pride. It is composed of the same letters that the Arabs used to express themselves most eloquently.
The Arabs were very proud of their language and Arabic was at its peak when the Qur’an was revealed. With the letters Alif Laam Meem, Yaa Seen, Ha-Meem, etc., (in Engllish we would say A, B, C, D) the Qur’an challenges mankind to produce a Surah at least somewhat similar to the Qur’an in beauty and elegance, if they doubt its authenticity.
Initially, the Qur’an challenges all the men and jinn to produce a recital like the Qur’an and adds that they would not be able to do it even if they backed each other. This challenge is mentioned in Surah Isra chapter 17 verse 88 and in Surah Tur chapter 52 verse 34.
Later the Qur’an repeats the challenge in Surah Hud chapter 11 verse 13 by saying produce ten surahs like it and later in Surah Yunus chapter 10 verse 38 produce one surah like it and finally the easiest challenge is given in Surah Al-Baqarah chapter 2 verses 23 and 24.
"And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Surah like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (if there are any) besides Allah if your doubts are true.
But if ye cannot – and of a surety ye cannot – then fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones – which is prepared for those who reject faith."
[Al-Qur’an 2:23-24]
To compare the skill of two artisans, they must be given samples of the same raw material and their performance evaluated in performing the same task. If they are tailors they must be provided with the same fabrics. The raw materials of the Arabic language are these letters Alif Laam Meem, Ya Seen (in English it is A, B, C, D, etc.) The miraculous nature of the language of the Qur’an does not lie only in the fact that it is the Word of Allah, but also in the fact that although made up of the same letters in which the pagan Arabs took pride, it has not been rivalled.
The Arabs are noted for their rhetoric ability, eloquence and meaningful expression. Just as the constituents of the human body are known to us and can be obtained by us, the letters comprising the Qur’an, such as Alif Laam Meem are known to us, and used frequently to formulate words. Life cannot be created by us, even if we possess knowledge of the constituents of the human body. Similarly we cannot capture the same eloquence and beauty of expression that we find in the Qur’an, despite knowing the letters that constitute the Qu’ran. The Qur’an thus proves its Divine origin.
4. Miraculous quality of Qur’an mentioned immediately after these broken letters
Therefore immediately after these broken letters are mentioned in the Qur’an, the following verses speak about the miracle of the Qur’an, and its authority e.g. in Surah Baqarah Chapter 2 verse 1-2:
"Alif Laam Meem.
This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah."
[Al-Qur’an 2:1-2]

Source(s):

From the Q/A section of www.irf.net

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thank u all for contributing and educating me. Undoubtedly every one who took part precisely took up the seriousness of my question which was in my mind for years. It was very difficult for me to choose the best. Any way this is the one I liked most which was very educating and in details. Bless u.

Answer 2

This is something that only God truely knows, it's one of the mysteries of the Quran, we can only speculate.

I would also recommend Lawrence's blog:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-M0HhlJwwd…

He discusses this and much more.

Answer 3

Alif Laam Mim are 3 letters of the Arabic alphabet. It's like saying A, B, C. It doesn't carry any meaning known to us, it is rather used to bring your attention to what follows. You know, like saying 3, 2, 1 before starting a speech.

Answer 4

Maybe you know all this but this website may explain your doubts about the words.

http://www.meem.freeuk.com/Laam2.html

Even I understood what they want to say.

Answer 5

My copy of the Qu'ran (trans. Muhammed Pickthall) has a note saying that they are three letters of the Arabic alphabet. The note also states a theory that it may be the initials of the scribe, but that the letters are always read as part of the text.

Answer 6

Yes alif laam miim is put as the first verse in the surah 2 Al Baqsarah (female cow) and also in the surah 3 Ali Imran(imran family).But no one knows its meaning only Allah know it exactly.Alif laam miim is the alphabet of arabic language.It is spoken for attracting attention that holy qur'an is given by God through Gabriel angel to Muhammad pbuh prophet in arabic language.There is another alphabet beginning verse such alif laam raa.

Answer 7

It means "Damn-I'm-Sexy"!

Source(s):

I am the one true God

Answer 8

There r 16 Miraclous word in Quran including alif laam mim, whose meaning is unknown from normal person, only Allah knows its meaning

Answer 9

The classical exegeses may give you different reasons for the meaning of these words but in the end they say Allah knows best, Allahu Alum. The next line describes the God fearing -those who believe in the unseen. In the end anything that is meant here, may not mean what it means.

Source(s):

http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMad…

http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMad…

www.sunnipath.com

Answer 10

As many of the people have already pointed out, there are various theories attached to these words but theat is all they are: theories. Only Allah knows best. Thee words are part of the "mutashabhihaat".

I would, however, like to point out that sometimes people dwell (and I am not finger pointing at you but talking in general) too much on "mutashabihaat" in the Quran whereas the actual challenge for muslims is to act on the verses whose meaning is obvious and well understood by everyone.

Answer 11

ALIF LAM MIM are letters of the Arabic alphabet. They are known as huruf muqatta-at, letters used as abbreviations for words which have a definite meaning of sublime and profound nature known only to Allah, His last prophet, and His Ahl ul Bayt, the true divinely chosen successors, the holy Imams. Particularly, these types of symbolic alphabets, used in some of the surahs of the Quran, as a part of those surahs, are beyond the comprehension of (even) the most learned intellectuals. It is strictly prohibited to use imagination and discretion in finding out its purport and meaning.

There are six surahs including al Baqarah, which begin with ALIF, LAM, MIM. The others are Ali Imran, Ankabut, Rum, Luqman and Sajdah.
_____________________________________

Many interpretations have been forwarded and manipulated by some commentators, but they are all based upon conjecture, devoid of any definite authority. According to the holy Imams these letters are a means of reaching the higher realms of true knowledge, available in the verses of the Quran, but the domain of sublime confidences are reserved only for the chosen representatives of Allah.

Source(s):

http://www.al-islam.org/quran

Answer 12

I agree with most of the answers but id like to add 2 more inquries;
1- alef, lam, meem are arabic letters, God mentioned these letters as some sort of a challenge to every1 who reads the Quran, as the arabic alphabet is well known to all literate arabic speakers and yet no1 is able to come up with something as beautiful, powerful or miraclous as the Quran, its like ''here is the raw material of the Quran, simple letters that every1 know, show me what u got kinda thing!''
in the same chapter God says; ''And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true, But if ye cannot--and of a surety ye cannot--then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones,--which is prepared for those who reject Faith.'' (2:23-24)

2- it is well known that the prophet was an illeterate man, couldnt read or write, he could be an articulate man but yet there was no way for him to know the arabic alpahbet, so these letters were to prove that this Quran was revealed to him!

i hope u get the idea now