The meaning of Alif Lam Mim

Alif Lam Mim, these three letters are the opening verse in the Quran after the opening (Al-Fatihah). These three letters have huge implications on not only how we approach reading the Quran, but how we approach life in general.

The general translation of Alif Lam Mim is that there isn’t any. Early Muslims and Scholars do not know what it means. Bear in mind that the Quran was revealed at a time when Arabic was at its pinnacle. Similar to what English was in the Shakespearean era. So for early Muslims and Scholars, who knew the language better than anyone, to not know what it means has even greater significance.

The main implication is: that we don’t know that much. As amazing as we think we are, the truth of the matter is that what we know is insignificant to what we don’t.

Limits to our knowledge

Someone might have a PhD in a certain field. Of course in comparison to a layman’s understanding of that field, the PhD will be considerably knowledgeable. However, what the PhD knows about the particular field of study is insignificant to what can be known about the reality of things. The true nature of what is being studied about in that particular field of study. What we know about reality is but a drop of water in the vast ocean.

The consequences of realizing this results in humility, humbleness, open mindedness, and an attitude to always be willing to learn. We become immune to the attitude of knowing all the answers. We maintain a certain level of skepticism with our opinions and thoughts.

How to continue to grow

Oftentimes we have the opposite attitude. We are arrogant with the knowledge that we possess, having the stance of knowing more than what others do, biased to our own brand of truth, and out rightly reject other opinions and ideas. The moment this happens, we stop growing, intellectually and spiritually. 

Obviously, it is in our nature to want to continuously improve. Thus, we should maintain our intellectual and spiritual growth until we depart from this world, and Alif Lam Mim implicitly tells us how to do just that.

God knows best.

Reflections of Surah Al Baqarah Verse 1

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