The Mystery Letters

Of the 114 Chapters of the Holy Qur’an 29 start with a verse consisting of one or more letters that are read separately and do not seem to convey any meaning. These are called ‘huruf al muqatt’at’ in Arabic meaning disjointed letters and often referred to as mystery letters. The Islamic scholars who have researched these have come to the common conclusion that only Allah knows their meaning.

However, like any mysterious objects, these letters have been exploited for commercial gain by unscrupulous religious merchants by selling talismans, motifs and magical imagery depicting these mystery letters. Many people have died from lack of medication because they believed that magical imagery would cure them.

As I proceeded in my study of the Holy Qur’an, I realized that starting verses of all chapters (surahs) starting with the muqatt’at had the same sort of introductory statement as the second chapter, The Cow (Al Baqarah).   I tabulated them as given below. A close examination of the table indicates that at some time there may have been 29 volumes of the Holy Quran each staring with the muqatt’at followed by the introductory verses. Probably in the early days of Islam, the 29 books were combined into a single volume without any alteration in text and in the order we see today. Since the original volumes differed considerably in length, for convenience of reciters they may have been divided into thirty equal parts known as “juz”.

There is, obviously, no magic in the huruf al muqatt’at.

Table: Possible Early Order of Compilation of the Holy Qur’an.

Volume	Chapters	Starting chapters	Muqatt’at	Initial Verses (Yusuf Ali translation)
1	1	The Opening
1	2	The Cow	Alif, laam, meem	This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah;
2	3 to 6	The Family Of 'Imran	Alif, laam, meem	It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong).
3	7 to 9	The Heights	Alif, laam, meem, saad	A Book revealed unto thee,− So let thy heart be oppressed no more by any difficulty on that account,− that with it thou mightest warn (the erring) and teach the Believers).
4	10	Jonas	Alif, laam, ra	Is it a matter of wonderment to men that We have sent Our inspiration to a man from among themselves?− that he should warn mankind (of their danger), and give the good news to the Believers that they have before their Lord the lofty rank of truth. (But) say the Unbelievers: "This is indeed an evident sorcerer!"
5	11	Hud	Alif, laam, ra	(This is) a Book, with verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning), further explained in detail,− from One Who is Wise and Well−acquainted (with all things): 11:2 (It teacheth) that ye should worship none but Allah. (Say): "Verily I am (sent) unto you from Him to warn and to bring glad tidings:
6	12	Joseph	Alif, laam, ra	These are the symbols (or Verses) of the perspicuous Book. 12:2 We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye may learn wisdom.
7	13	The Thunder	Alif, laam, ra	These are the signs (or verses) of the Book: that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the Truth; but most men believe not.
8	14	Abraham	Alif, laam, ra	A Book which We have revealed unto thee, in order that thou mightest lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light − by the leave of their Lord − to the Way of (Him) the Exalted in power, worthy of all praise!−
9	15 to 18	Stone Land	Alif, laam, ra	These are the Ayats of Revelation,− of a Qur'an that makes things clear. 15:2 Again and again will those who disbelieve, wish that they had bowed (to Allah's will) in Islam.
10	19	Mary	Kaaf,  ha, ya, a’in, sa’ad	(This is) a recital of the Mercy of thy Lord to His servant Zakariya.
11	20 to 25	Ta-Ha	Ta, ha	We have not sent down the Qur'an to thee to be (an occasion) for thy distress, 20:3 But only as an admonition to those who fear (Allah),−
12	26	The Poets	Ta, seen, meem	These are verses of the Book that makes (things) clear. 26:3 It may be thou frettest thy soul with grief, that they do not become Believers.
13	27	The Ant	Ta, seen	These are verses of the Qur'an,−a book that makes (things) clear; 27:2 A guide: and glad tidings for the believers,−
14	28	The Story	Ta, seen, meem	These are Verses of the Book that makes (things) clear. 28:3 We rehearse to thee some of the story of Moses and Pharaoh in Truth, for people who believe.
15	29	The Spider	Alif, laam, meem	Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested? 29:3 We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.
16	30	The Romans	Alif, laam, meem	The Roman Empire has been defeated− 30:3 In a land close by; but they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious− 30:4 Within a few years. With Allah is the Decision, in the past and in the Future: on that Day shall the Believers rejoice−
17	31	Luqman	Alif, laam, meem	These are Verses of the Wise Book,− 31:3 A Guide and a Mercy to the Doers of Good,−
18	32 to 35	The Prostration	Alif, laam, meem	(This is) the Revelation of the Book in which there is no doubt,− from the Lord of the Worlds.
19	36 to 37	Ya-Sin	Ya, seen	By the Qur'an, full of Wisdom,− 36:3 Thou art indeed one of the messengers,
20	38 to 39	Sad	Sa’ad	By the Qur'an, Full of Admonition: (This is the Truth). 38:2 But the Unbelievers (are steeped) in self−glory and Separatism.
21	40	The Believer	Ha, meem	The revelation of this Book is from Allah, Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge,− 40:3 Who forgiveth sin, accepteth repentance, is strict in punishment, and hath a long reach (in all things). there is no god but He: to Him is the final goal
22	41	(Signs) Spelled Out	Ha, meem	A Revelation from (Allah), Most Gracious, Most Merciful;− 41:3 A Book, whereof the verses are explained in detail;− a Qur'an in Arabic, for people who understand;−
23	42	Councel	Ha, meem A’in, seen, qaaf	Thus doth (He) send inspiration to thee as (He did) to those before thee,− Allah, Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom. 42:4 To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: and He is Most High, Most Great.
24	43	Ornaments of Gold	Ha, meem	By the Book that makes things clear,− 43:3 We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand (and learn wisdom).
25	44	Smoke	Ha, meem	By the Book that makes things clear;− 44:3 We sent it down during a Blessed Night: for We (ever) wish to warn (against Evil).
26	45	Crouching	Ha, meem	The revelation of the Book is from Allah the Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom. 45:3 Verily in the heavens and the earth, are Signs for those who believe.
27	46 to 49	The Wind-curved Sandhills	Ha, meem	The Revelation of the Book is from Allah the Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom. 46:3 We created not the heavens and the earth and all between them but for just ends, and for a Term Appointed: But those who reject Faith turn away from that whereof they are warned.
28	50 to 67	Qaaf	Qaaf	By the Glorious Qur'an (Thou art Allah's Messenger). 50:2 But they wonder that there has come to them a Warner from among themselves. So the Unbelievers say: "This is a wonderful thing!
29	68 to 114	The Pen	Noon	By the Pen and the (Record) which (men) write,− 68:2 Thou art not, by the Grace of thy Lord, mad or possessed. 68:3 Nay, verily for thee is a Reward unfailing: 68:4 And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character.