‫‪1. Muhammad ibn Bakran al-Naqqash (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Kufah that‬‬ ‫‪Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Hamdani said: `Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Fuddal, on the authority‬‬ ‫‪of his father that‬‬ Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida عليه السلام said: Verily, the first thing that Allah, the Mighty and High, created, in order to teach His Creation, was the alphabet. When someone is hit over the head so hard that he loses the ability to speak properly, the law decrees that he must be presented the letters of the alphabet. The extent of the compensation the culprit must pay is based on the number of letters of the alphabet which the victim of the assault cannot pronounce. My father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, on the authority of the Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام that he said about the alphabet: The Letter * [alif] “a” * stands for Allah’s Blessings [ala]; the letter * [ba] “b” stands for Allah’s Joy [bahjat] (also for the Ever-Remaining and the Originator of the Heavens and the Earth); the letter * [ta] “t” stands for the completion of the affairs through the Rise from the Progeny of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم; the letter * [tha] “th” stands for the reward [thawab] for the good deeds of the believers. The letter * [jim] “j” stands for Allah’s Exaltation [jamal] and Glory [jalal]; the letter * [ha] “h” stands for Allah’s Forbearance [hilm] towards sinners (it also stands for the EverLiving, the Truth, and the Forbearing); the letter * [kha] “kh” stands for the sluggishness of the disobedient ones in the presence of Allah, the Mighty and High. The letter * [dal] “d” stands for Allah’s Religion [din] (which He has approved for His servants); and the letter * [dhal] “dh” stands for the Lord of Glory and Honor [dhil jalal wa-al-ikram]. The letter * [ra] “r” stands for the Affectionate [al-Ra’uf] and the Most Merciful [alRahim]; and the letter * [za] “z” stands for Shaking on the Day of Judgment. The Letter * [sin] “s” stands for Allah’s Luminance [sana] (and His Eternity); and the letter * [shin] “sh” stands for Allah’s Wish, whatever He wished and Intention, whatever He intended. And you do not wish except that Allah wishes. The letter * [sad] “s” stands for the One whose Promise is True [Sadiq al-Wa`d] in carrying the people over the Bridge [Sirat], and imprisoning the oppressors in the Hell; and the letter * [dad] “d” stands for the loss [dil] of whoever opposes Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and his Progeny عليه السلام. The letter * [ta] “t” stands for the Prosperity [tuba] and Good Ending for the Believes; and the letter * [za] `z’ stands for the optimism of the Believers about Allah and the pessimism of the unbelievers in Allah. The letter * [`ayn] “`a” stands for the Omniscient [`Alim]; and the letter * [ghayn] “gh” stands for the Self-Sufficient [al-Ghani], who is absolutely never in need. The letter * [fa] “f” stands for the (the Splitter [al-Faliq] of the seeds and fruit kernels, and for) flame from the flames of the Fire; and the letter * [qaf] “q” stands for the Qur’an whose compilation and recitation depends upon Allah. Ther letter * [kaf] “k” stands for the Sufficient [al-Kafi]; and the letter * [lam] “l” stands for the absurdity [laghw] of the unbelievers in the lies which they ascribe to Allah. The letter * [mim] “m” stands for the Sovereignty of Allah on the Day of Judgment, on the Day on which there will be no other sovereignty. Allah, the Mighty and High, says: To whom belongs the Kingdom this Day? At that time the spirits of His Prophets, Messengers and Proofs عليه السلام will speak and say: To Allah, the One, the Subduer (of All). Thus, Great be His Glory will respond: This Day every soul shall be rewarded for what it has earned; no injustice (shall be done) this day; surely Allah is quick in reckoning. And the letter * [nun] “n” stands for Allah’s favour [nawal] for the believes and His Punishment [nakal] for the unbelievers. The letter * [wa’u] “w” stands for the affliction [wayl] with the punishment of the Day of Judgment for the ones who disobey Allah; and the letter * [ha’] “h” stands for the insignificance of those who disobey Allah. The letter * [la] “la” as in [la ilaha illa Allah] “there is no god but Allah,” is the expression of sincere devotion. There is no servant who says it sincerely except Paradise becomes incumbent upon him. Finally the letter * [ya] “y” stands for Allah’s hand which is expanded over all His creatures for sustenance. Glorified and Exalted is He from what the polytheists profess. He عليه السلام then said: Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, revealed this Qur’an with these letters, which all the Arabs use, and then challenged: Say: if men and jinn should combine together to bring the like of this Qur’an, they could not bring the like of it, thought some of them were aiders of others.