2.Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

الم ﴿١﴾

2: 1. A.L.M.

C25. These are abbreviated letters, the Maqatta'at, on which a general discussion will be found in Appendix I.

The particular letters, Alif, Lam, Mim, are found prefixed to this Surah, and Surahs 3, 29, 30, 31 and 32 (six in all).

- In Surah 2 and Surah 3 the argument is about the rise and fall of nations, their past, and their future in history, with ordinances for the new universal people of Islam.

- In Surah 29 a similar argument about nations leads off to the mystery of Life and Death, Failure and Triumph, Past and Future, in the history of individual souls.

- The burden of Surah 30 is that Allah is the source of all things and all things return to Him.

- In Surah 31 and Surah 32 the same lesson is enforced: Allah is the Creator and He will be the Judge on the Last Day. There is therefore a common thread, the mystery of Life and Death, Beginning and End.

Much has been written about the meaning of these letters, but of it is pure conjecture. Some commentators are content to recognize them as some mystic symbols of which it is unprofitable to discuss the meaning by more verbal logic.

ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾

2: 2. This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah.

C26. Taqwa and the verbs and nouns connected with the root, signify:

1. the fear of Allah which according to the writer of Proverbs (1:7) in the Old Testament is the beginning of Wisdom;

2. restraint, or guarding one's tongue, hand, and heart from evil;

3. hence righteousness, piety good conduct.

All these ideas are implied; in the translation, only one or other of these ideas can be indicated according to the context.

See also 47:17; and 74:56, n.5808.

Other versions:

2: 1

Asad Alif. Lam. Mim. (note 1)

Transliteration Alif La_m Mim.

Sura that starts with these letters: - 2, 29, 30 [ mecca 84, 60 ayat],

31[ Luqman, mecca 57, 34 ayat], 32 [as-Sajda, Mecca 75, 30 ayat ]

[Ali’s note: 25 These are abbreviated letters, the Muqattaat, on which a general discussion will be found in Appendix I (to be printed at the end of this Sura). (2.1)

[Asad’s note 1: Regarding the possible significance of the single letters called al-muqatta at, which occur at the beginning of some surahs of the Quran, see Appendix II, where the various theories bearing on this subject are discussed.]

2: 2

Asad This Divine Writ – let there be no doubt about it – is [meant to be] a guidance for all the God-conscious (note 2)

Pickthall This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off (evil).

Transliteration Za_likal kita_bu la_ raiba fihi hudal lilmuttaqin(a).

[Ali’s note: 26 Taqwa and the verbs and nouns connected with the root, signify: (1) the fear of God which according to the writer of Proverbs (i.7) in the Old Testament is the beginning of Wisdom; (2) restraint, or guarding one's tongue, hand, and heart from evil; (3) hence righteousness, piety good conduct. All these ideas are implied; in the translation, only one or other of these ideas can be indicated according to the context. See also xivii 17; and ixxiv 56, n.5808. (2.2) ]

[Asad’s note: The conventional translation of muttaqi as “God-fearing” does not adequately render the positive content of this expression – namely, the awareness of His all-presence and the desire to mould one’s existence in the light of this awareness; while the interpretation adopted by some translators, “one who guards himself against evil” or “one who is careful of his duty”, does not give more than one particular aspect of the concept of God consciousness.]