of Nokounam, (Session 108)
The Noble Qur'an, like an infinite sea of knowledge and guidance, encompasses profound layers and exalted meanings whose understanding necessitates a scientific, documented approach, free from baseless conjectures. Surah Al-Baqarah, as one of the longest and most comprehensive chapters of the Noble Qur'an, comprising 286 verses, provides an unparalleled platform for exploration in Qur'anic sciences and the interpretation of divine verses. This Surah, whose name derives from the story of the Cow of the Children of Israel, encompasses a variety of subjects ranging from jurisprudential rulings to prophetic narratives and doctrinal discussions. This book, relying upon scholarly and precise lectures, examines the fundamentals of Qur'anic sciences and the exegesis of Surah Al-Baqarah, with a special emphasis on the disjointed letters (urf muqaat), which, as mysterious keys, open a gateway to deeper comprehension of the verses. This work, composed in an exalted language and systematic structure, is intended for specialised audiences and academic settings, serving as a guide for seekers of truth within the sacred precincts of the Noble Qur'an.
The Noble Qur'an, as the Divine Word, is studied under two principal domains: fundamentals, encompassing Qur'anic sciences which examine the structure, history, and the apparent and substantive characteristics of the Qur'an; and elucidation of verses, which is exegesis dedicated to extracting knowledge and sciences from the divine verses. Qur'anic sciences, like a firm foundation, facilitate a more precise understanding of the verses and include topics such as reasons for revelation (asbb al-nuzl), variant readings (qirt), and the disjointed letters. Exegesis, however, akin to the fruit borne of this foundation, seeks to uncover profound meanings and practical applications of the verses in human life.
The Noble Qur'an, as the book of Divine revelation, holds a status distinct from other religious sciences such as jurisprudence (fiqh) and principles (usl). Unlike these sciences, where personal ijtihd or differing opinions may be permissible, Qur'anic exegesis demands scholarly evidence and rigorous reasoning to preserve the sanctity of the Divine Word from baseless discourse. This exalted status obliges commentators to avoid speculative and unsupported statements, relying solely on logical arguments and authentic narrations.
Surah Al-Baqarah, with its extensive content and variety of topics, shines like a jewel among the chapters of the Noble Qur'an. This Surah, encompassing rulings, prophetic stories, and doctrinal discussions, provides an appropriate context for investigating the fundamentals of Qur'anic sciences and verse interpretation. The naming of this Surah as "Al-Baqarah," referring to the story of the Cow of the Children of Israel (verses 67 to 73), itself provokes inquiries regarding the Divine wisdom behind this choice. This narrative, symbolising obedience and submission to Divine commands, indicates the profound meanings embedded within this Surah.
The disjointed letters (urf muqaat), appearing at the beginning of 29 Surahs of the Noble Qur'an (27 Meccan and 2 Medinan), represent one of the unique features of this heavenly scripture. These letters comprise 78 recurring and 14 non-recurring letters (alif, , r, sn, d, ayn, qf, kf, lm, mm, nn, h, y), constituting half of the Arabic alphabet (28 letters). Written contiguously but pronounced separately, these letters occur in various Surahs including Al-Baqarah, l Imrn, Al-Arf, Ynus, Hd, Ysuf, Rad, Ibrhm, ujurt, Maryam, -H, Shuar, Naml, Qaa, Ankabt, Rm, Luqmn, Sajdah, Y-Sn, d, Mumin, Failat, Shr, Zukhruf, Dukhan, Jthiyah, Aqf, Qf, and Qalam.
At the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, the disjointed letters Alif Lm Mm (ا ل م) appear, regarded as the first verse of this Surah. Translation: "Alif, Lm, Mm." These letters, pronounced separately, recur in 28 other Surahs and have been the subject of extensive scholarly discourse in Qur'anic sciences.
The number of disjointed letters varies from a single letter (such as "Nn" in Surah Qalam and "Qf" in Surah Qf) up to five letters (such as "Kf H Y Ayn d" in Surah Maryam). This variety indicates the structural complexity and miraculous nature of the Qur'an, making their analysis more challenging. For instance, Alif Lm Mm is tri-lettered, Alif Lm Mm d is four-lettered, and Kf H Y Ayn d is five-lettered.
From the perspective of tajwd (Qur'anic phonetics), the disjointed letters are divided into two categories: maddaud (elongated, such as " mm" due to the presence of a madd letter and madd cause, read with extension) and maq (without elongation). Adherence to these rules in Qur'anic recitation, especially during prayers, is of paramount importance. Incorrect recitation, particularly in congregational prayers, may result in juridical complications and set an improper example for the faithful.
Ancient and contemporary commentators differ in their interpretations of the disjointed letters, with numerous opinions (up to ten or eleven) recorded. Some have considered these letters as among the mutashbiht (ambiguous verses), whose true interpretation is known only to God. This view, supported by narrations attributed to the infallibles, asserts that the meanings of these letters reside solely in Divine knowledge.
However, this perspective conflicts with the guiding role of the Noble Qur'an. The Qur'an, as a book of guidance, was revealed for human understanding and benefit, and no part of it can be considered incomprehensible. A narration from the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) states: "Every book has a quintessence, and the quintessence of this book are the disjointed letters." Additionally, Shubah narrated: "God has a secret in every book, and its secret in the Qur'an is the various disjointed letters." These narrations introduce the disjointed letters not as incomprehensible, but as holding a special status as the quintessence and secret of the Qur'an.
Some theorists have claimed that the disjointed letters are merely decorative or ornamental; however, this stance contradicts the exalted status of the Noble Qur'an. The disjointed letters, as part of the Divine Word, contain argumentative secrets and maintain a profound connection with the content of the Surahs. Their occurrence predominantly in Meccan Surahs (27 Surahs) compared to Medinan ones (2 Surahs) demonstrates their role in attracting the audience's attention and emphasising the linguistic miracle of the Qur'an during the era of Islamic invitation.
The disjointed letters have been utilised in occult sciences, talismans, and exorcisms; however, such applications must be approached cautiously and evaluated against scientific and religious criteria. Beyond their linguistic role, these letters possess spiritual and scientific capacities that may be applicable in various domains, provided they are free from superstition.
The disjointed letters are a unique feature of the Noble Qur'an and are not found in other heavenly scriptures such as the Torah, Psalms (Zabur), or Gospel (Injil). This characteristic points to the linguistic and structural miracle of the Qur'an and underscores its superiority over other revealed books.
Qur'anic knowledge must be empowering and free from superstition and baseless discussions. This knowledge should not only be epistemic but also contribute to solving social, cultural, and scientific issues. Contrary to approaches that consider religious science as merely theoretical and impractical, Qur'anic exegesis must yield knowledge that brings power and self-sufficiency to society.
The culture of dependency and poverty in religious knowledge obstructs the production of empowering knowledge and self-sufficiency. Religious knowledge must lead to invention, discovery, and production to liberate society from dependency. This critique is an invitation to reassess scientific and religious approaches with an emphasis on self-sufficiency and the generation of knowledge responsive to societal demands.
The exegesis of Surah Al-Baqarah and the analysis of the disjointed letters, as one of the pivotal topics in Qur'anic sciences, demand a scientific, documented, and exalted approach that preserves the noble status of the Noble Qur'an. The disjointed letters, appearing in 29 Surahs, require deeper investigation not only from a formal perspective (structure and quantity) but also from a semantic standpoint (function and meaning). These letters, more prevalent in Meccan than Medinan Surahs, contain argumentative secrets and maintain a profound relationship with the Surahs' content; they cannot be regarded merely as decorative or incomprehensible. Qur'anic science, as an empowering discipline, must eschew baseless discussions and superstition, fostering the production of knowledge that aids in resolving societal issues. This book, by integrating scholarly lectures and detailed analyses, takes a step toward a more precise understanding of these letters and other Qur'anic subjects, inviting researchers to continue on this path.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
