Surah Yusuf #1

With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful 

الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ

Alif Laam Ra. These are the verses of the enlightening Book.

Surah Yusuf #1

TAFSEER

“Alif-laam-ra…”
Huroof Al-Muqatta’at (Broken Letters)

This surah begins with the letters alif-laam-ra.  We all know that there are a number of surahs in the Qur’an that begin with letters.  Alif-laam-meem, ha-meem, ‘ayn-seen-qaaf, noon, qaaf, kaf-ha-ya–‘ayn-saad, ta-ha, ya-seen.  These letters are called huroof al-muqatta’at (broken letters) by the scholars of tafsir.  They are called the broken letters because they do not form words. 

One opinion is that we will never know what these huroof al-muqatta’at mean.  This is a valid opinion in so far as that we will never know for sure and only Allah knows for sure.

Why did Allah reveal these letters?

There must be a wisdom.  We can try to think of wisdoms of why Allah (subhanahuwata’ala) revealed these letters at the beginning of these surahs.

One thing that we notice which is very interesting is that almost all the time in the Qur’an when Allah begins a surah with these letters, the very next phrase has something to do with the Qur’an.

Think about all of the surahs you know.  
Ya-sin. Wa’l-Qur’an al-hakeem.
 Kaf-ha-ya–‘ayn-saad.  Dhikru rahmatirabbika… 
“This is what I am telling you in the Book.”  Alif-laam-meem.  Dhaalika kitabu la raybafeehi… Alif-laam-ra. Tilka aayaatu’lkitabi’lmubeen.  Ha-meem. Wa’l-kitabilmubeen.

There are some exceptions where it is not the second verse but it is the third or fourth verse.  Every single time Allah mentions huroof al-muqatta’at within the first few verses, something to do with the Qur’an is mentioned.  Therefore, it would make sense that these huroof al-muqatta’at have something to do with this magnificent Qur’an.  Every time, the Qur’an is praised after the huroof al-muqatta’at.  It is logical to make some connection.

“…these are the verses of the clear / lucid Book.”

Tilka is an Arabic word which means ‘this/these.’  There is a difference between tilka and haadhihi, which both mean ‘this/these.’  Haadhihi is used for something close. 
Tilka is used for something far away.

Allah (subhanahuwata’ala) is talking about the Qur’an with the far away word
Allah ‘azza wajall talks about the Qur’an in the pronoun that refers to something far away.  

Why does Allah mention the far away pronoun when the Qur’an is in our hands?  
To show the status of the Qur’an is exalted and to show that the Qur’an is worthy of being something majestic.  
Even if you have it, we should thank Allah that we have it, but its status is a high and noble status.  Allah says, “Tilka aayaatu’lkitabi’lmubeen.”

An ayah is a verse.  This shows us that Allah has Himself divided the Qur’an into ayat. 

Allah mentions the word surah and the word ayah.     An ayah also means a sign / indication / miracle.  A verse is a sign, and a verse is a miracle.  Allah uses the term that is loaded with meaning. 

What does ayah mean? 
Allah calls the miracles of creation ayah.  Allah says that in your creation there is an ayah, and in the sun and the moon there is an ayah.  Allah calls the verses of the Qur’an an ayah.  It is not a coincidence, and Allah knows what He is saying, and no one is more eloquent than Allah.  The meaning here is that every verse of the Qur’an has a message for you and an indication and a miracle.

Mubeen is a description of the book.  Allah calls the Qur’an many different names, but there are two names that are the most common Kitab and Qur’an are complementary to each other and put together tell us what this book is.  Kitab means something that is written down, and Qur’an means something that is recited.  The Qur’an is something that is written down and recited simultaneously.  No other book from Allah has been preserved to this level.  

Al-mubeen can have two meanings.  The first meaning is the Book itself is a clear Book.

What does it mean that the Book is clear? 
It means that anybody who approaches the Qur’an will be able to get some message from it and find some level of benefit from it.  It is not something that only the elite have access to and is not something that only the scholars should read.

Even the basic, average Muslim can benefit from the Qur’an.  There is no doubt that the average Muslim can only benefit a certain level, and the more they grow in knowledge, the more they can benefit.  Another meaning of Allah calling the kitabmubeen is that this Book is a clear message from Allah, and you do not have any doubt where it is from.

Allah is saying that this is a mubeen Book – you know the origin, you know the source, and everything is clear about it. There is no question mark.   You need nothing else besides this surah.  This indicates the importance of this surah.  

REFLECTIONS
Verse 1:
Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book.
• There are 14 letters used in al-mokta’at throughout the Quran
‣ There’s an opinion that these particular letters are mentioned as a challenge to the Arabs
• Listen up, you guys think you’re so eloquent and so good at literature, bring something
• This was the wisdom of Allah (to show them what they’re appreciating it)
– This during the time of the prophet, it’s a challenge to make something like this (you can’t, it’s only by the power of Allah)
• An ayah is a miracle because every word of Allah is a miracle
• How do we know that this is a challenge? 
Because of what comes after the letters.
– Alef, lam, rah, These are the verses of the clear book.
– Ketab (book) -comes form kaf, teh, and beh, means coming together, or put together in one place
– Clear in its rulings and clarifying
– The Quran is clear guidance from Allah subhanahowata’ala
• The miracle of the Quran is that you can’t get rid of it

AUTHENTIC TAUHEED;

Alif-Lam-Ra. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings].  

Al-Ahzab 33:70 Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran in order that you may understand

Al-Ahzab 33:71 He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (SAW) he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and made to enter Paradise). 

“Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” (Narrated by al-Haakim, 2/399; al-Bayhaqi, 3/249)

Al-Ahzab 33:70 O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. 

–Allah doesn’t mince His words, so neither should we! 
–people who mince their words are considered to reject faith in Allah tala and Islam 
–so when explaining tawheed, we must be clear 
–the Prophet (saws) did not mince his words

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, no one of this nation, Jew or Christian, hears of me then dies not believing in that with which I have been sent, but he will be one of the people of Hell.” (Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah)

LESSON;
Speaking clearly:
–when we speak, speak clearly and to the point 
–when we give dawah, we’re not allowed to mince our words 
–so speak clearly and to the point 

Reasons to speak clearly:
— if we’re not clear, we can put someone’s hereafter in jeopardy

3 reasons why it’s haraam to ‘beat around the bush’:
1. you fear others than Allah tala 
2. you waste time 
3. you give the wrong impression