Reflections on Surat ul-Baqarah #1
29 December 2009
BismiLlah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim
Ayah 1:
“Alif, Laam, Meem.”
The meaning of these letter is only known to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and because of that very reason they attract a lot of attention of the listener. This, however, is not specific to Arabic readers but also to the English speaking ones. When they in normal translations three letters “A.L.M”, they do not understand what do these three letters stand for and what they mean.
This shows that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, after giving an introduction to His Book, garners attention of His slaves to His Book.
As du’aat to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, we should follow the methodology of the Qur’an. And from this verse we extract that we should speak in such a way that we first get their attention and then go about with the preaching. An example of this in the Sirah of the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam in a hadith narrated by ‘Abdullah ibnu ‘Abbas radhi Allahu ‘anhuma said, “When Allah revealed the Ayah,
“And warn your tribe of near kindred.”[1]
The Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam went to As-Safa’, climbed up and called out, “O people!” The people gathered around him, some coming of their own accord and others sending people on their behalf to find out what was happening. The Messenger of Allah said, “O Bani `Abd Al-Muttalib, O Bani Fihr, O Bani Lu’ayy! What do you think, if I told you that there was a cavalry at the foot of this mountain coming to attack you — would you believe me?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “Then I warn you of a great punishment that is close at hand. Abu Lahab said, “May you perish for the rest of the day! You only called us to tell us this””[2]
The Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wassalam gathered the people around him, and then gave the Message.
In addition, this ayah shows that we must pay attention to Qur’an when we recite it or listen to it as Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says in another ayah:
“So, when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.”[3]
[1] Surat ush-Shu’raa: 214
[2] Musnad Imam Ahmad
[3] Surat ul-A’raaf: 204
At-Taddabur al-Insaan fil-Kalaam ar-Rahman, Language of the Qur'an, Qur'an
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