Surah al-A‘raf

7 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

His saying, the Almighty: "Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad."

[The first interpretation]

8200 - Musa ibn Sahl al-Ramli told us, Adam told us, Shayban told us, from ‘Ata’ ibn al-Sa’ib, from Abu al-Duha, regarding His saying: "Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad," he says: "I am Allah, I act."

The second interpretation:

8201 - My father told us, Abu Salih told us, Mu‘awiyah ibn Salih told me, from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn ‘Abbas: His saying: "Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad" is a name from the names of Allah, and it is an oath by which Allah has sworn.

The third interpretation:

8202 - Ahmad ibn ‘Uthman ibn Hakim informed us in what he wrote to me, Ahmad ibn Mufaddal told us, Asbat told us, from al-Suddi: His saying: "Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad," it is: "The Fashioner (al-Musawwir)."

The fourth interpretation:

8203 - Abu ‘Abd Allah al-Tihrani informed us in what he wrote to me, ‘Abd al-Razzaq informed us, Ma‘mar informed us, from Qatadah: His saying: "Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad," he said: "A name from the names of the Quran."

The fifth interpretation:

8204 - My father told us, Sahl ibn ‘Uthman told us, Yahya ibn Abi Za’idah informed us, from Ibn Jurayj, Mujahid said: "Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad, these are opening letters (fawatiḥ) with which Allah opens the Quran." I said: "Did you not use to say they are names?" He said: "No."

The sixth interpretation:

8205 - My father told us, Sahl ibn ‘Uthman told us, al-Hakam told us, from Muhammad ibn Ishaq, from Muhammad ibn Ka‘b, regarding "Alif-Lam-Mim-Sad": He said: "Alif is from Allah, Mim is from the Most Merciful (al-Rahman), and Sad is from the Eternal Refuge (al-Samad)."