Transliteration:( Alif-Laaam-Meeem-Raa; tilka Aayaatul Kitaab; wallazee unzila ilaika mir Rabbikal haqqu wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa yu'minoon )
"Alif, Lam, Meem, Ra [1]. These are the verses of the Book, [2] and what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the truth, [3] but most people do not believe. [4]"
This is a Makkan Surah, revealed before Hijrah. Only two of its verses, a portion of verse thirty-one and verse forty-three, were revealed in Madinah. It contains six Rukus, forty-three verses, eight hundred and twenty-five words, and three thousand five hundred and six letters. However, some scholars consider it Madani due to those exceptions.
In the word “this”, there is a subtle indication towards all the past and future verses, or it may be specifically pointing to the verses contained in Surah Ra’d.
By “Book”, what is meant is the Holy Qur’an.
This verse confirms that both the Holy Qur’an and Hadith Nabawi are valid revelations. The phrase “what has been sent” is used in a general sense, which includes the Hadith as well—since Hadith too originates from Allah Almighty.
The only difference is:
In the Qur’an, both words and meaning are from Allah.
In the Hadith, the meaning is from Allah but the words are of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
This is why Hadith Shareef is not recited in Salaah, yet in the formulation of Islamic law, Qur’an and Hadith hold equal authority.
Therefore, interpreting “that which has been sent” as Hadith is fitting, especially since “Book” has already been separately mentioned. The structure implies two distinct entities joined by conjunction—meaning “that which has been sent” points to something other than the Book, i.e., the Hadith.
Some disbelievers labeled it poetry, others magic, and some termed it soothsaying.
From this, we understand a key principle:
“The effect of an effector depends on the receptivity of the affected.”
For example:
The sound of rain cannot produce greenery without fertile soil.
The sunlight cannot illuminate for the bat, which is naturally averse to light.
This analogy underscores that the Qur’an's truth remains unaffected by rejection—the fault lies in the hearts that fail to accept it.
1. Alif Lam-Mim Ra. These are the verses of the Book (the Qur’an), and that which has been revealed unto you from your Lord is the truth, but most men believe not.
We talked before, in the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah (chapter 2) about the meaning of the letters that appear in the beginnings of some chapters in the Qur’an. We stated that every Surah that starts with separate letters, affirms that the Qur’an is miraculous and is an evidence that it is a revelation from Allah, and that there is no doubt or denying in this fact. This is why Allah said next,
(These are the verses of the Book), the Qur’an, which Allah described afterwards,
(and that which has been revealed unto you), O Muhammad,
(from your Lord is the truth,) Allah said next,
(but most men believe not.) just as He said in another Ayah,
(And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.) ﴿12:103﴾ Allah declares that even after this clear, plain and unequivocal explanation (the Qur’an), most men will still not believe, due to their rebellion, stubbornness and hypocrisy.
(13:1) Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra’. These are the verses of the Divine Book. Whatever has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, and yet most (of your) people do not believe.[1]
1. This is the introduction to this Surah, in which its aim and object has been enunciated in a few words. Allah has addressed the Prophet (peace be upon him) to this effect: O Prophet, most of your people are rejecting the teachings of the Quran for one reason or the other, but the fact is that what We are sending down to you is the truth whether people believe it or not.
After this brief introduction, the discourse deals with the main subject of the Surah which consists of three basic things. First, the entire universe belongs to Allah alone, and none besides Him has any right to service and worship. Second, there is another life after this life in which you shall have to render an account of all your actions. Third, I am a Messenger of Allah: whatever I am presenting before you is not from myself but from Allah. As the people were rejecting these three things, these have been reiterated over and over again in various forms to remove doubts and objections from the minds of the disbelievers.
[622]- See footnote to 2:1.
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