Muqatta'at (Arabic: ‫ )مقطعات‬are unique letter combinations that appear in the beginning of

29 suras (chapters) of the Qur'an.Muqatta'at literally means abbreviated or shortened. Their

meanings remain controversial and are considered by many Muslims to be divine secrets.
There is no reliable report of Muhammad having used such expressions in his ordinary speech, or
his having shed light on its usage in the Qur'an. And, more importantly, none of his Companions
seemed to have asked him about it. This apparent lack of inquisitiveness is cited as proof that such
abbreviations were well known to the Arabs of the time and were in vogue long before the advent of
Islam
The suras that contain these letters are: sura 2, sura 3, sura 7, sura 10, sura 11, sura 12, sura
13, sura 14, sura 15, sura 19,sura 20, sura 26, sura 27, sura 28, sura 29, sura 30, sura 31, sura
32, sura 36, sura 38, sura 40, sura 41, sura 42, sura 43,sura 44, sura 45, sura 46, sura 50, sura 68.
Laam and Meem are conjoined and both are written with prolongation sign/Mark. One letter is written
in two styles. [Refer 19:01 and 20:01] Letter 20:01 is used only in the beginning and middle of a
word and that in 19:01 is not used as such. ‫ الم‬is also the First Ayah of Sura 3, 29, 30, 31 and 32
[total 6].

For example, the translator Maulana Muhammad Ali translates these letters in his editions of the
Holy Qur'an as follows:

Alif (‫)ا‬: an abbreviation for Ana (‫أنا‬, I am)

Ḥā (‫)ح‬: an abbreviation for Al-Ḥamīd (‫الحميد‬, the Praised),
Rā (‫)ر‬: an abbreviation for the Seeing (‫ بصير‬/ ‫ يرى‬/ ‫ رؤيا‬/ ‫ رأى‬/ ‫) رائي‬
Sīn (‫)س‬: as either an abbreviation for Man or an abbreviation for As-Samī' (‫السميع‬, the
Hearing),
Ṣād (‫)ص‬: an abbreviation for As-Ṣādiq (‫الصادق‬, the Truthful),
Ṭā (‫)ط‬: as either an abbreviation for the Benignant or an interjection equivalent to O (in
dialect),
ʿAyn (‫)ع‬: an abbreviation for Al-'Alīm (‫العليم‬, the Knowing),
Qāf (‫)ق‬: an abbreviation for Al-Qādir (‫القادر‬, the Almighty),
Kāf (‫)ك‬: an abbreviation for Al-Kāfi (‫كافي‬, the Sufficient),
Lām (‫)ل‬: an abbreviation for Allāh (‫هللا‬, using the second letter),
Mīm (‫)م‬: as either an abbreviation for Al-'Alīm (‫العليم‬, the Knowing, using the ending letter) or
for Al-Majīd (‫المجيد‬, the Glorious),
Nūn (‫)ن‬: a word meaning Inkstand,
Hā (‫)ه‬: as either an abbreviation for Al-Hādīy (‫الهادي‬, the Guide) or an abbreviation for Man (in
dialect), and
Yā (‫)ي‬: an interjection equivalent to O.
Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, a classical commentator of the Qur'an, has noted some twenty opinions
regarding these letters, and mentions multiple opinions that these letters present the names of the
Surahs as appointed by God. In addition, he mentions that Arabs would name things after such
letters (for example, 'eye' as '‫'ع‬, clouds as '‫'غ‬, and whale as '‫)'ن‬. [1][2]
1. Chapter 2, Surah Al-Baqara : ʾAlif Lām Mīm
2. Chapter 3, Surah Āl-Imran : ʾAlif Lām Mīm
3. Chapter 7, Surah Al-Aʿarāf : ʾAlif Lām Mīm Ṣād
4. Chapter 10, Surah Yunus : ʾAlif Lām Rāʾ
5. Chapter 11, Surah Al-Hood : ʾAlif Lām Rāʾ
6. Chapter 12, Surah Yusuf : ʾAlif Lām Rāʾ
7. Chapter 13, Surah Al-Raʿd : ʾAlif Lām Mīm Rāʾ
8. Chapter 14, Surah Ibrahim : ʾAlif Lām Rāʾ
9. Chapter 15, Surah Al-Ḥijr : ʾAlif Lām Rāʾ
10. Chapter 19, Surah Maryam : Kāf Hāʾ Yāʾ ʿAin Ṣād
11. Chapter 20, Surah Ṭāʾ-Hāʾ : Ṭāʾ Hāʾ
12. Chapter 26, Surah Al-Shua'ra (The Poets) : Ṭāʾ Sīn Mīm
13. Chapter 27, Surah Al-Namal (The Ant) : Ṭāʾ Sīn
14. Chapter 28, Surah Al-Qaṣaṣ : Ṭāʾ Sīn Mīm
15. Chapter 29, Surah Al-Ankabut (The Spider) : ʾAlif Lām Mīm
16. Chapter 30, Surah Al-Rom (The Romans) : ʾAlif Lām Mīm
17. Chapter 31, Surah Luqmān : ʾAlif Lām Mīm
18. Chapter 32, Surah Al-Sajda (The Adoration) : ʾAlif Lām Mīm
19. Chapter 36, Surah Yāʾ-Sīn : Yāʾ Sīn
20. Chapter 38, Surah Ṣād : Ṣād
21. Chapter 40, Surah Al-Mu'min (The Believer) : Ḥāʾ Mīm
22. Chapter 41, Surah Fuṣṣilat : Ḥāʾ Mīm
23. Chapter 42, Surah Al-Shūrā : Ḥāʾ Mīm; ʿAin Sīn Qāf
24. Chapter 43, Surah Al-Zukruf (The Embellishment) : Ḥāʾ Mīm
25. Chapter 44, Surah Al-Duqqan (The Smoke) : Ḥāʾ Mīm
26. Chapter 45, Surah Al-Jasiya (The Kneeling) : Ḥāʾ Mīm
27. Chapter 46, Surah Al-Ahqaf (The Sandhills) : Ḥāʾ Mīm
28. Chapter 50, Surah Qāf : Qāf
29. Chapter 68, Surah Al-Qalam (The Pen) : Nūn

30. Quran The Final Testament

31. Authorized English version
Translated from the Original
By: Rashad Khalifa, Ph.D.
32. Copyright © Rashad Khalifa, 2016
33.
34.
Chapter No English Title Arabic Title
1 The Key Al-Fãtehah
2 The Heifer Al-Baqarah
3 The Amramites Ãli-´Imrãn
4 Women Al-Nesã´
5 The Feast Al-Mã´edah
6 Livestock Al-An`ãm
7 The Purgatory Al-A`arãf
8 The Spoils of War Al-Anfãl
9 Ultimatum Barã´ah
10 Jonah Younus
11 Hûd Hûd
12 Joseph Yousuf
13 Thunder Al-Ra`ad
14 Abraham Ibrahîm
15 Al-Hijr Valley Al-Hijr
16 The Bee Al-Nahl
17 The Children of Israel Banî Israel
18 The Cave Al-Kahf
19 Mary Maryam
20 T.H. Tã Hã
21 The Prophets Al-Anbyã´
22 Pilgrimage Al-Hajj
23 The Believers Al-Mu´minûn
24 Light Al-Noor
25 The Statute Book Al-Furqãn
26 The Poets Al-Shu`arã´
27 The Ant Al-Naml
28 History Al-Qasas
29 The Spider Al-`Ankaboot
30 The Romans Al-Room
31 Luqman Luqmãn
32 Prostration Al-Sajdah
33 The Parties Al-Ahzãb
34 Sheba Saba´
35 Initiator Faater
36 Y.S. Yã Sîn
37 The Arrangers Al-Sãffãt
38 S Saad
39 The Throngs Al-Zumar
40 Forgiver Ghãfer
41 Detailed Fussilat
42 Consultation Al-Shoo`arã
43 Ornaments Al-Zukhruf
44 Smoke Al-Dukhãn
45 Kneeling Al-Jãtheyah
46 The Dunes Al-Ahqãf
47 Muhammad Muhammad
48 Victory Al-Fatt-h
49 The Walls Al-Hujurãt
50 Q Qãf
51 Drivers of the Winds Al-Dhãreyãt
52 Mount Sinai Al-Toor
53 The Stars Al-Najm
54 The Moon Al-Qamar
55 Most Gracious Al-Rahmaan
56 The Inevitable Al-Waaqe`ah
57 Iron Al-Hadeed
58 The Debate Al-Mujaadalah
59 Exodus Al-Hashr
60 The Test Al-Mumtahanah
61 The Column Al-Suff
62 Friday Al-Jumu`ah
63 The Hypocrites Al-Munaafeqoon
64 Mutual Blaming Al-Taghaabun
65 Divorce Al-Talaaq
66 Prohibition Al-Tahreem
67 Kingship Al-Mulk
68 The Pen Al-Qalam
69 Incontestable Al-Haaqqah
70 The Heights Al-Ma`aarej
71 Noah Noah
72 The Jinn Al-Jinn
73 Cloaked Al-Muzzammil
74 The Hidden secret Al-Muddath-thir
75 Resurrection Al-Qeyaamah
76 The Human Al-Insaan
77 Dispatched Al-Mursalaat
78 The Event Al-Naba´
79 The Snatchers Al-Naaze`aat
80 He Frowned `Abasa
81 The Rolling Al-Takweer
82 The Shattering Al-Infitaar
83 The Cheaters Al-Mutaffifeen
84 The Rupture Al-Inshiqaaq
 85 The Galaxies Al-Burooj
86 The Bright Star Al-Taareq
87 The Most High Al-A`alaa
88 The Overwhelming Al-Ghaasheyah
89 Dawn Al-Fajr
90 The Town Al-Balad
91 The Sun Al-Shams
92 The Night Al-Layl
93 The Forenoon Al-Duhaa
94 Cooling the Temper Al-Sharrhh
95 The Fig Al-Teen
96 The Embryo Al-`Alaq
97 Destiny Al-Qadr
98 Proof Al-Bayyinah
99 The Quake Al-Zalzalah
100 The Gallopers Al-`Aadeyaat
101 The Shocker Al-Qaare`ah
102 Hoarding Al-Takaathur
103 The Afternoon Al-`Asr
104 The Backbiter Al-Humazah
105 The Elephant Al-Feel
106 The Quraish Tribe Quraish
107 Charity Al-Maa`oon
108 Bounty Al-Kawthar
109 The Disbelievers Al-Kaaferoon
110 Triumph Al-Naasr
111 Thorns Al-Masad
112 Absoluteness Al-Ikhlaas
113 Daybreak Al-Falaq
114 People Al-Naas