THE ABBREVIATED LETTERS (AL - MUQATTA-TÄ)

      Certain chapter (SURAS) of QURÄN have certain initials prefixed to them which are called the ABBREVIATED LETTERS.

      These letters have always been looked over as secrets and mysteries. We have not heard of the PAGAN ARABS, or even the hypocrites, to have objected or ridiculed these letters, though the form of their conducts was so, and this means that they have not been much stranger to using such abbreviations.

      Recently a number of conjectures have been made as their meaning. Opinions are divided as to the exact meaning of each particular letter or combination of letters, but the most agreed idea about them is that, these abbreviated letters point that; the GREAT, IMPORTANT DIVINE BOOK, that has astonished all the well versed scholars and learned of ARABS and NON-ARABS, who all failed to bring even a chapter the like of it; merely consists of the simple and ordinary letters, that every one has access to them and can use them in writing. On the other hand the words and verses of QURÄN, which are composed of these letters are so elegant, and deep in meaning that they easily pierce in the souls, and penetrate in the depths of the hearts of men! They easily attract the attention and reverence of a Layman, as well as that of a man of wisdom and thought. QURÄN is just like the book of nature which is composed of very simple elements, in which God has brought forth so many wonderful and incredible creatures, such as the beautiful birds, various colours and divers smell and scent. God brings out all these varieties from the same soil of which we can make pots and jars!

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ARABIC LITERATURE

      The PAGAN ERA OF ARABS, was the golden age of their literature! Those BARE-FOOTED people, were deprived of all the social and economical advantages, but their hearts were filled with the love of literature, eloquency and oratory. They had a large periodic market, named AKAZ which besides its usual affairs, had turned to a literature center. It served also as an economical and judicial annual CONGRESS.

In that high council the best and the newest, verses and proses, were rehearsed, for consideration and judgement; and the best ones were chosen to be proclaimed as the poem or prose of the year.

      In such that golden age of literature, the whole world is challenged to produce a book like QURÄN, but it has not been produced - even by a chapter like unto it, although many have tried hard and have done their best to do so, and have failed!

      Say: ``If man and JINNS were to gather together in order to bring the like of this QURÄN; they will not bring the like of it, even if they back up each other with their help and support.''

QURÄN - S 17:88