Quran Universe
12:1

الٓرۚ تِلۡكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ

Aliflamra tilka ayatu alkitabi almubeenu

Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book.

Word by word
  1. الٓرۚAlif Laam Ra
  2. تِلۡكَThese
  3. ءَايَٰتُ(are the) Verses
  4. ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ(of) the Book
  5. ٱلۡمُبِينِ[the] clear
Yusuf · 12:1Makkah

Three letters, then a story that answers a trap.

Pausing before the clear Book speaks

How the surah opens
Alif Lam Rameaning known to Allah
then
the clear Bookplain, it makes things known
How to meet it
skim to the pointI know this already
stop and listensomething clear is coming

Makkah, late in the Prophet's ﷺ time there. His opponents had set a test: tell us why the Israelites went to Egypt, a story the Arabs did not know. The answer came as a whole surah, opening with letters whose meaning is known to Allah.

You open the app on the bus, thumb ready to scroll past the Arabic to the part you think matters. Three letters sit there with no explanation. They ask you to slow down before the story starts.

Letters I cannot explain are something to skip past.

Not knowing their meaning is a reason to pay closer attention to what follows.

Try this

Before reading any Quran today, take one slow breath and read the first line twice.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ - إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ - نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ

(1. Alif-Lam-Ra. These are the verses of the Book that is clear.)(2. Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an in order that you may understand.)(3. We relate unto you the best of stories through Our revelations unto you, of this Qur'an. And before this, you were among those who knew nothing about it.)

Qualities of the Qur'an

In the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah we talked about the separate letters, Allah said,

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ

(These are the verses of the Book) in reference to the Clear Qur'an that is plain and apparent, and explains, clarifies and makes known the unclear matters. Allah said next,

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

(Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an in order that you may understand.) The Arabic language is the most eloquent, plain, deep and expressive of the meanings that might arise in one's mind. Therefore, the most honorable Book, was revealed in the most honorable language, to the most honorable Prophet and Messenger ﷺ, delivered by the most honorable angel, in the most honorable land on earth, and its revelation started during the most honorable month of the year, Ramadan. Therefore, the Qur'an is perfect in every respect. So Allah said,

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ

(We relate unto you the best of stories through Our revelations unto you, of this Qur'an.)

Reason behind revealing Ayah (12:3)

On the reason behind revealing Ayah (12:3), Ibn Jarir At-Tabari recorded that 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas said, "They said, 'O, Allah's Messenger! Why not narrate to us stories?' Later on, this Ayah was revealed,

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ

(We relate unto you the best of stories...)" There is a Hadith that is relevant upon mentioning this honorable Ayah, which praises the Qur'an and demonstrates that it is sufficient from needing all books besides it. Imam Ahmad recorded a narration from Jabir bin 'Abdullah that 'Umar bin Al-Khattab came to the Prophet ﷺ with a book that he took from some of the People of the Book. 'Umar began reading it to the Prophet ﷺ who became angry. He said,

أَمُتَهَوِّكُونَ فِيهَا يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ؟ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَقَدْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِهَا بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً، لَا تَسْأَلُوهُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ فَيُخْبِرُوكُمْ بِحَقٍّ فَتُكَذِّبُونَهُ، أَوْ بِبَاطِلٍ فَتُصَدِّقُونَهُ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ أَنَّ مُوسَى كَانَ حَيًّا مَا وَسِعَهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَتَّبِعَنِي

(Are you uncertain about it Ibn Al-Khattab? By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! I have come to you with it white and pure. Do not ask them about anything, for they might tell you something true and you reject it, or they might tell you something false and you believe it. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! If Musa were living, he would have no choice but to follow me.)

Imam Ahmad also recorded a narration from 'Abdullah bin Thabit who said, "'Umar came to Allah's Messenger and said; 'O Messenger of Allah! I passed by a brother of mine from [the tribe of] Qurayzah, so he wrote some comprehensive statements from the Tawrah for me, should I read them to you' The face of Allah's Messenger changed [with anger]. So I said to him, 'Don't you see the face of Allah's Messenger?" 'Umar said, 'We are pleased with Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion, and Muhammad as our Messenger.' So the anger of the Prophet ﷺ subsided, and he said,

وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ أَصْبَحَ فِيكُمْ مُوسَى ثُمَّ اتَّبَعْتُمُوهُ وَتَرَكْتُمُونِي لَضَلَلْتُمْ، إِنَّكُمْ حَظِّي مِنَ الْأُمَمِ، وَأَنَا حَظُّكُمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ

(By the One in Whose Hand is Muhammad's soul, if Musa appeared among you and you were to follow him, abandoning me, then you would have strayed. Indeed you are my share of the nations, and I am your share of the Prophets.)"