19.Surah Maryam

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

كهيعص ﴿١﴾

19:1.     Kaf Ha Ya 'Ayn Sad.

C2455. This is the only Surah which begins with these five Abbreviated Letters, Kaf Ha Ya 'Ayn Sad.

For Abbreviated Letters generally, see Appendix 1.

As stated in my note 25, such Letters are Symbols of which the true meaning is known to Allah alone. We should not be dogmatic about any conjectures that we make.

According to the interpretation of the last letter Sad, suggested in n. 989 to 7:1, I should be disposed to accept Sad with the meaning of Qasas, i.e. stories of the Prophets.

The main figures referred to here are:

-         Zakariya,

-         Yahya,

-         Maryam,

-         ‘Isa, and

-         Ibrahim:

the others are mentioned but incidentally.

The strong letter

-         inZaKariya is K;

-         inIbraHim, H;

-         inYahYa and perhaps MarYam, Y; and

-         in ‘Isa – ‘A ((‘Ayn).

-         H also comes in Harun (Aaron), and

-         the Arabic Ya’ comes in all the names including Ismail and Idris.

I offer this suggestion with some difference.

The suggestion of the TafsirKabir is that the letters stand for attributes of Allah;

-         K for Kafi (the One sufficient in Himself);

-        H for Hadi (He who guides);

-        Y for Yad (Hand as symbol of Power and Authority;

Cf. 48:10.

“The Hand of Allah is above their hands”);

-        ‘A for Alim (the All Knowing); and

-        S for Sadiq (The True One).

Pickthall’s Version:

19: 1

Pickthall Kaf. Ha. Ya. Ain. Sad.

Transliteration Ka_f ha_ ya_ 'ai in sha_d

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[ Ali’s note: 2455 This is the only Sura which begins with these five Abbreviated Letters, K.,H.,Y.,A.,S. For Abbreviated Letters generally, see Appendix 1. (19.1) ]