BISMILLAH HIR RAHMAN NIR RAHEEM

(In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful)

All praise is for Allah. Darood (Blessings) and Salaam (Peace) on Muhammad, his Family, and his Companions.

ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA SAYYIDINA MUHAMMADIN NABEE YIL UMMEE WA ALIHI WA BARIK WA SALLIM

ASTAGHFIR ULLAHA ALLAZI LA ILAHA ILLA HUWAL HAYYUL QAYYUM WA ATUBU ILAYH

LAAM - THE ARABIC LETTER

INTRODUCTION

The Arabic letter Laam () is equivalent to the letter 'L' in the English alphabet.

The position of the letter Laam () in the normal Arabic character set is 23. In the numerical character set, Abjad, Laam () is the 12th Letter with a numerical value of 30. This article is about the spiritual meaning of the letter Laam ().

THE LETTER LAAM

The letter Laam () is one of the Muqattaat letters. That is, it is used as a letter in an opening verse of a chapter in the Quran. The letter Laam () is used 13 times as a Muqattaat letter. That is the same number of times as the Letter Alif () is used as a Muqattaat Letter.

The Quran is a form of communication. The Quran is Allah's communication to the creation. The same Quran is our means of communicating with Allah. All communication is either by spoken word or written word. Even the sign language for deaf people is written word. We either communicate by tongue or by hand. There is a third form of communication which is by thought. In this day and age, there is great emphasis on communication.

However, the first form of communication most of us learn in childhood is the communication by tongue. Jibreel () used to recite the Quran to Muhammad.

Then Muhammad used to recite the Quran to his community, and the scribes used to write down the new revelation. The 'new' Muslim community in the time of Muhammad used to hear the recitation of the Quran from the blessed Lisaan Tongue of Muhammad.

THE TONGUE - LISAAN

16 Do not move your tongue concerning the (Quran) to make haste with it.
17 It is for Us to collect it and to recite it.
18 Then, when We recite it, follow its recitation.
19 Then it is for Us to explain it (and make it clear).

[Quran: Al Qiyamat Chapter 75]

Ibn Abbas added: "It is for Us to collect it (Quran) (in your mind), and (give you the ability) to recite it (by heart)," means, "When We reveal it, listen." "Then it is for Us to explain it," means, "It is for us to explain it through your tongue." So whenever Jibreel came to Rasool Allah he would keep quiet (and listen), and when the Angel left, the Prophet would recite that revelation as Allah promised him.

[Sahih Bukhari]

The word Lisaan Tongue is the compliment of the ear. The tongue affects the ear. The ear affects the soul. The soul affects the entire body. Every word makes an impression on the listener. But the deepest impression made on the listener is either a kind word or a harsh word. When a gifted Qari recites the Quran, tears start flowing from the eyes of the listeners.

Yet the same tongue which can be used for reciting the Quran, or for saying a kind word or for saying a harsh word. Which ever way we look at it, the tongue is a very sharp instrument which should be used carefully.

Then, there are those who always take every word spoken by the tongue of another the wrong way because their ears are veiled. The opposite is also true, where there are those who no matter what they say, the words always come out wrong (harsh) because their tongues are veiled. This is a very subtle point.

It is the tongue which is the instrument for propagating the Message of the Quran.

25 (Musa) said: Rabbi (My Lord)! Open my breast for me
26 And ease my task for me;
27 And loosen the knot from my tongue,
28 That they may understand what I say.

[Quran: Ta Ha Chapter 20]

It is the tongue that is used for cursing.

78 Curses were pronounced on those among the Children of Israel who rejected faith by the tongue of Dawood (David) and of Isa (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary): because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses.

[Quran: Al Maida Chapter 5]

And the tongue is also the instrument which protects us from evil as Allah tells us in the four chapters which start with the word QUL - 'SAY'. These four chapter are:

1 Al Kafiroon Chapter 109

2 Al Ikhlas Chapter 112

3 Al Falaq Chapter 113

4 An Nas Chapter 114

On reciting these four chapters, or other parts of the Quran like Ayat ul Kursi (Chapter 2 verse 255) Allah commands the angels to protect the one who has recited these verses. The best use of the tongue is to keep it occupied with Zikr - Praising Allah and Darood. Whoever is engaged in Zikr Allah everyday, Allah creates an angel who asks for forgiveness from Allah for the one doing Zikr Allah.

LETTER LAAM AS MUQATTAAT

The Letter Laam () has been used 13 times as Muqattaat Letter. Every time, that the Letter Laam () appears as a Muqattaat Letter, it is preceded by the Letter Alif (). It has been used in the following combinations:

Since the Letter Alif () always precedes the Letter Laam (), the clue is Alif () and Laam (). The numerical value of the two letters is:

Alif () + Laam () = 31. These two letters occur 13 times.

The number 13 is the 'mirror' image of the numerical values of the Letters Alif () and Laam () which is 31. And to make it easy for us, we find that the Letters Alif () and Laam () are used as Muqattaat Letters in Chapter 13 and 31.

Chapter 13 is Ar Raad and Chapter 31 is Luqman. The interesting thing about these two Chapters is that:

Chapter 13 has 43 Verses

Chapter 31 has 34 Verses

If we turn to the Quran we find:

31 If there were a Quran with which mountains were moved or the earth were torn asunder or the dead were made to speak (THIS IS THE ONE!) But truly the Command is with Allah in things! Do not the Believers know that had Allah willed He could have guided all mankind? But for the unbelievers, disaster will never cease to strike them for their deeds, or it settles close to their homes until the Promise of Allah come to pass for Allah will not fail in His promise.

[Quran: Ar Raad Chapter 13]

This Verse is connected with Chapter 2 Verse 73

72 And (remember) when you slew a man and disagreed concerning it and Allah brought forth that which you were hiding.

73 So We said: "Strike the (body) with a piece of the (cow)." That is how Allah brings the dead to life and shows you His Signs so that you may understand.

[Quran: Al Baqara Chapter 2]

Which piece of the cow was the body struck with ? Or to put it another way, how is a person made to speak ? With the Lisaan tongue.

Now if we look at the other chapter, Chapter 31

13 Behold Luqman said to his son by way of instruction: "My son! Join not in worship (others) with Allah: for false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing.

[Quran: Luqman Chapter 31]

How do we worship Allah ? With the tongue. The other interesting point about this Verse 13 is that it is the first verse in Chapter 31 where a person's spoken words are recorded. In this case Luqman's speech, his actual words are recorded. The tongue and the speech are gifts bestowed by Allah, we should use it for for Praising Allah and speaking kind words to others.

CONCLUSION

The tongue has been placed in the human being for Praising Allah. We must use it for that purpose. The tongue is an instrument that can invoke Allah's Blessings, we must use it for that purpose. This world is the place to use the tongue for asking Allah's Mercy. On the the Day of Judgement, the mouth will be sealed and the limbs will speak of our actions.

May Allah have Mercy on us all. Ameen.

Only Allah Knows Best.

Khalid M. Malik Ghouri

Darood and Salaam on Muhammad, His Family, and His Companions

ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMADIN WA ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN KAMA SALLAITA ALA IBRAHEEMA WA ALA ALI IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUM MAJEED

ALLAHUMMA BARIK ALA MUHAMMADIN WA ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN KAMA BARAKTA ALA IBRAHEEMA WA ALA ALI IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUM MAJEED

NAMES OF ALLAH

STARTING WITH THE LETTER LAAM

Al Lateef

28 October 1999 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// 19 Rajab 1420
28 / 10 / 1999 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 19 / 7 / 1420

Darood (Blessings) and Salaam (Peace) on Muhammad, His Family, and His Companions