Laam – The Arabic Letter

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ 

A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Alhamdulillah (All praise is for Allah (AJ)). Durood wa Salaam (blessings and peace) on Muhammad (pbuh), his holy Family, and his holy Companions.

Laam ل = 30

The 12^th Letter of Abjad – The Arabic Numerology

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 12^th Letter with a
• numerical value of 30.

This article is about the spiritual meaning of the letter Laam.

THE LETTER LAAM ل

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.

[Quran is Allah (AJ)’s Communication to Creation]

The Quran is a form of communication. The Quran is Allah (AJ)’s communication to the creation. The same Quran is our means of communicating with Allah (AJ). 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 (as) used to recite the Quran to Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh).

Then Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh) 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 Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh) used to hear the recitation of the Quran from the blessed Lisaan, Tongue of Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh).

THE TONGUE – LISAAN

لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ ‎﴿١٦﴾‏ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ ‎﴿١٧﴾‏ فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ ‎﴿١٨﴾‏ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ ‎﴿١٩﴾‏‏

75:16-19 – “Laa tuharrik bihee lisaa naka lita’jala bih (16) Inna ‘alainaa jam’ahoo wa qur aanah. (17) Fa izaa Qura’nahu fattabi’ qur aanah. (18) Summa inna ‘alainaa bayaanah. (19) (Surat Al Qiyamah)

“Do not move your tongue with it (Quran) to hasten with recitation of it. (16) It is for Us to collect it and to recite it. (17) Then, when We recite it, follow its recitation. (18) Then it is for Us to explain it (and make it clear). (19) ” (The Resurrection, 75: 16-19)

Ibn Abbas added: “It is for Us to collect it (Quran) (in your mind), and (give you the ability) to recite it (by heart),” (75:17) means, “When We reveal it, listen.” (75:18) “Then it is for Us to explain it,” (75:19) means, “It is for us to explain it through your tongue.”

So whenever Jibreel came to Rasool Allah (pbuh) he would keep quiet (and listen), and when the Angel left, the Prophet would recite that revelation as Allah (AJ) promised him. [Sahih Bukhari] [hds]

[Lisaan (Tongue) Affects the Ears and the Soul]

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.

قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي ‎﴿٢٥﴾‏ وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي ‎﴿٢٦﴾‏ وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي ‎﴿٢٧﴾‏ يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي ‎﴿٢٨﴾‏ وَاجْعَل لِّي وَزِيرًا مِّنْ أَهْلِي ‎

20:25-28 – “ Qaala Rabbish rah lee sadree. (25) Wa yassir lee amri, (26) Wahlul ‘uqdatan mil lisaani, (27) Yafqahoo qawli. (28)” (Surat Taha)

“(Moses) said: “O my Lord! Open my breast for me. (25) And ease my task for me; (26) And loosen the knot/remove the impediment from my tongue, (27) That they may understand what I say. (28)  (Taha, 20:25-28)

It is the tongue that is used for cursing.

لُعِنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَىٰ لِسَانِ دَاوُودَ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا وَّكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ ‎﴿٧٨﴾‏

5:78 – “Lu’inal lazeena kafaroo mim Baneee israaa’eela ‘alaa lisaani Daawooda wa ‘Eesab ni Maryam; zaalika bimaa ‘asaw wa kaanoo ya’tadoon” (Surat Al Maidah)

“Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of Dawood (David) and of Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the messengers) and [habitually] transgressed..” (The Table Spread, 5:78)

And the tongue is also the instrument which protects us from evil as Allah (AJ) tells us in the four chapters which start with the word QUL – ‘SAY’. These four chapter are:

1. Surat Al Kafiroon (The Disbelievers) Chapter 109
2. Surat Al Ikhlas (The Sincerity) Chapter 112
3. Surat Al Falaq (The Daybreak) Chapter 113
4. Surat An Nas (The Mankind) Chapter 114

On reciting these four chapters, or other parts of the Quran like Ayat ul Kursi (2:255) Allah (AJ) 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 (AJ) and Durood. Whoever is engaged in Zikrullah everyday, Allah (AJ) creates an angel who asks for forgiveness from Allah (AJ) for the one doing Zikr Allah (AJ).

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:

The Letter Laam (ل) has been used 13 times as Muqattaat Letter. Every time, that the Letter Laam ppears as a Muqattaat Letter, it is preceded by the Letter Alif (ا). It has been used in the following combinations: [img – table]

Alif (ا) & Laam ل and Mirroring Number of 13 & 31

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

Alif (ا) + Laam (ل) = 1 + 30 =31.
These two letters occur 13 times [as Muqatta’at in Quran].

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 Ra’ad 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:

﴾وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَىٰ ۗ بَل لِّلَّـهِ الْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا ۗ …﴿٣١

13:31 – “Wa law anna Quranan suyyirat bihil jibaalu aw qutti’at bihil ardu, aw kullima bihil mawtaa; bal lillaahil Amru jamee’a…” (Surat Ar-Ra’d)

“And if there was any Qur’an by which the mountains would be removed or the earth would be broken apart or the dead would be made to speak, [it would be this Qur’an], but to Allah belongs the affair entirely…” (The Thunder, 13:31)

This Verse is connected with Chapter 2 Verse 73

وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَأْتُمْ فِيهَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ ‎﴿٧٢﴾‏ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْيِي اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ‎﴿٧٣﴾

2:72-73 – “Wa iz qataltum nafsan faddaara’tum feehaa wallaahu mukhrijum maa kuntum taktumoon. (72) Faqulnad riboohu biba’dihaa; kazaalika yuhyil laa hul mawtaa wa yureekum aayaatihee la’allakum ta’qiloon.(73)” (Surat Al-Baqarah)

“And (remember) when you slew a man and disputed over it (the crime) and Allah (AJ) brought forth that which you were hiding. (72) So We said: “Strike the (body) with a piece of it (the cow).” Thus/that is how Allah (AJ) brings the dead to life and shows you His Signs so that you may understand. (73)” (The Cow, 2:72-73)

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, the tongue.

Quran 31:13 – We Worship through Tongue

Now if we look at the other chapter, Chapter 31

وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ ‎﴿١٣﴾

31:13  – “Wa iz qaala luqmaanu libnihee wa huwa ya’izuhoo ya bunaiya laa tushrik billaah; innash shirka lazulmun ‘azeem.” (Surat Luqman)

“And (remember) when Luqman said to his son when he was advising him: “O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah (AJ). Indeed, false worship/ association [with the creator] is a great injustice/wrong-doing.” (Luqman, 31:13)

How do we worship Allah (AJ)? 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 (AJ), we should use it for Praising Allah (AJ) and speaking kind words to others.

CONCLUSION

The tongue has been placed in the human being for Praising Allah (AJ). We must use it for that purpose. The tongue is an instrument that can invoke Allah (AJ)’s Blessings, we must use it for that purpose. This world is the place to use the tongue for asking Allah’s (AJ) Mercy. On the Day of Judgement, the mouth will be sealed and the limbs will speak of our actions. [Added 36:65]

الْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَىٰ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَا أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْ‌جُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾

36:65 – “Al yawma nakhtimu ‘ala afwahehim wa tukallimunaa aydeehim wa tashhadu arjuluhum bima kanoo yaksiboon.” (Surat YaSeen)

“That Day, We will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify about what they used to earn.” (YaSeen, 36:65)

May Allah have Mercy on us all. Ameen.

 Only Allah Knows Best.

 By: Khalid M. Malik Ghouri

Name of Allah (AJ) starting with the letter Laam

1. Al Lateef

Durood and Salaam (Blessings and peace) on Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh) (Pbuh), his holy Family, and his holy Companions.

اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدْ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.

Allah (AJ)umma salli ’ala Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh)in, Wa ’ala aali Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh), kama sallayta ‘alaa Sayyidina Ibrahima wa ‘alaa aali Sayyidina Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid.

O Allah (AJ), send peace and blessings upon our master Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (pbuh) and upon the holy family of our master Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (pbuh), as you sent blessings upon our master Abraham (pbuh) and upon the family of our master Abraham (pbuh).

Date first published:

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

Date article updated: 20241005

Related Articles: 

•  Main page of Ilm e Huroof (knowledge of Letters) – Fawatih (Opening) and Muqatta’at Letters
• The Abjad Table – Secret of Muqatta’at
• Alif
• Meem
• Walking Qur’an : Alif Laam Meem Verily There is no Doubt in this Book (Prophet ﷺ)
• “Alif Laam Meem – Huda lil Muttaqeen” (2:1-2) Who are Muttaqeen?
• Allah (AJ)’s Salaam is Not a Simple ‘Hi’ – Surah YaSeen (36:58) Surah Qadr (97:5)

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