حمٓ 1
Translations
Ḥā, Meem.
Transliteration
Ha Meem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah consists of the isolated letters (Huruf Muqatta'at) 'Ha Meem' (ح م), which appear at the beginning of Surah Az-Zukhruf and six other surahs (40-46). Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that the precise meaning of these letters is known only to Allah, though they serve to draw attention and affirm the miraculous nature of the Qur'an—a book composed of these same letters that the Arabs use in their language, yet they cannot produce its like. These letters also mark a distinctive rhetorical opening that distinguishes this surah and establishes its divine origin.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zukhruf is a Meccan surah revealed during the early-to-middle Meccan period. The opening isolated letters (Huruf Muqatta'at) appear in a series of surahs (40-46) and serve as a stylistic and spiritual marker for the listener, preparing them for the message about monotheism, refutation of idolatry, and the Day of Judgment that follows.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly interprets these specific letters, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said regarding the isolated letters: 'These are from the secrets of Allah in His Book, and we should not busy ourselves with their specific meanings.' (Referenced in classical tafsir works). Additionally, the general principle from Anas ibn Malik in Sahih Bukhari emphasizes that the Qur'an's miraculous nature includes its linguistic construction.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the Qur'an, though composed of ordinary letters and language, is a miraculous text whose true depths and purposes are ultimately known only to Allah. For modern readers, this teaches humility in approaching divine knowledge and trust in the guidance provided by the Qur'an, even when some aspects remain beyond complete human comprehension.