BENEFIT 250: Is one considered a Mufawiḍh for saying that the meaning of the individual letters at the beginning of certain sūrahs is known only to Allāh?
30 September 2024 • 2.23K views
The questioner says: esteemed Sheikh, may Allāh grant you success, you mentioned that the Mufawwiḍhah are those who say, "We refer the meaning of the Āyah to Allāh (i.e. None knows its meaning except Allāh)" The question is: when some scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah say that the meaning of the individual letters at the beginning of certain sūrahs is known only to Allāh, and that they were revealed for a great purpose, does this resemble the position of the Mufawwiḍhah?
Sheikh Fawzān ḥafidhahullāh
These are letters, my brother, not words. Letters by themselves do not convey any meaning. A single letter cannot indicate anything; it must be part of a constructed sentence to carry meaning. So, the intent behind these letters is known only to Allāh because they are not a complete sentence but merely individual letters. Therefore, some scholars have left the matter to Allāh. However, others, like Sheikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Al-Qayyim, argue that these separated letters serve as a form of challenge. Allāh is saying that the Qur'ān is composed of these very letters that you speak with, yet you are unable to produce even a single Sūrah like it. These letters are, therefore, a reference to this challenge.
That is why the mention of the Qur'ān often follows these letters. For example,
﴿الۤمۤ (1) ذَ ٰلِكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبُ﴾
After "Alif Lam Meem" comes..."This is the Book,"
[Sūrah Al-Baqarah: 1-2]
﴿الۤمۤرۚ تِلۡكَ ءَایَـٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ﴾
After "Alif Lam Ra" comes "These are the Āyāt of the Book." [Sūrah Ar-Ra’d: 1]
﴿حمۤ (1) وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِینِ﴾
After "Ha Meem," comes "By the clear Book." [Sūrah Az-Zukhruf: 1-2]
﴿صۤۚ وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ ذِی ٱلذِّكۡرِ﴾
"Ṣād. By the Quran, full of reminders!" [Sūrah Ṣād: 1]
﴿قۤۚ وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ ٱلۡمَجِیدِ﴾
"Qāf. By the glorious Quran!" [Sūrah Qāf: 1]
﴿طه (1) مَاۤ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡكَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِتَشۡقَىٰۤ﴾
After "Ta Ha" comes "We have not sent down the Qur'ān to cause you distress." [Sūrah Ṭā-Hā: 1-2]
So, it is usually followed by a reference to the Qur'ān, indicating that these letters carry a meaning, which is that they serve as a challenge. The Qur'ān is composed of these very letters that you use in your speech, yet you are incapable of producing anything like it. Allāh knows best.
@almanhajussalafi