They are secrets that none knows except the Prophet (S) and...

They are secrets that none knows except the Prophet (S) and, after him, his successors (as) who have left some traditions and narrations which testify to this very matter: 1 Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (as) said: " Every book has all elite and the elite of this Book (The Qur'an) is the 'abbreviated letters'." [^1] It is narrated from Imam al-Sadiq (as) who said: 'Alif 'A' Lam 'L', Mim 'M', are the letters among the (whole) letters of the' Exalted Name' of Allah, which are separated and scattered in the Qur'an and whenever the Prophet and the sinless Imams (as) call Allah by that 'Exalted Name', their prayer will be accepted." [^2] It is narrated from Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (as), thus: "The Quraysh and the Jews refuted the Qur'an and said: 'It is mere magic and he has made it by himself’.

So, Allah said: ‘ 'Alif, Lam, Mim. This is the (True) Book...' , i.e. 'O' Muhammad, this Book that is sent down to you, is made up of the abbreviated letters and 'Alif Lam, Mim are among them. They are the same as the letters of the alphabet that you (people) use in your words. Bring similar to it if you are genuine’." [^3] It is narrated from Ibn-Abbas and 'Akramah who have said that these letters are the 'letters of oath', as well as 'the Name of Allah', by which He (s.w.t.) has Sworn.

The reason why Allah has sworn by these letters is, perhaps, for their importance and greatness through which the Glory and Highness of Allah and the secrets of the world of creation are stated.

All sciences, from the beginning to the end, daily activities and arrangements of affairs in societies and their communications throughout the world, the development of industries, the trading and commercial activity between people, their marriages, the social laws, regulations, and the jurisprudence of the religions of human beings, all in all, depend on the letters of the alphabet.

The transmission of ancient civilizations and cultures from old generations to the later ones has been possible only through transcribing and recording them essentially with the help of the bounty of alphabets. Even this very book, which is the statement of the Divine laws and the description of the Qur'anic concepts, is being published and distributed throughout the world in different languages including the English language, because of the existence of the letters of the alphabet.

Furthermore, an oath is usually taken to an important and great subject. These abbreviated letters have such an importance and greatness.