Huroof muqattaat: the disjointed letters of the Quran
Huroof muqatta‘at are the “disjointed letters” that open 29 surahs of the Quran, such as Alif Lam Mim and Ya Sin. They are read as separate letter names, and their exact meaning is one of the Quran’s mysteries. Here is every set, which surahs they open, how to recite them and what scholars have said about them.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
All 14 sets and the surahs they open
| Letters | Read as | Surahs |
|---|---|---|
| الٓمٓ | Alif Lam Mim | 2. Al-Baqarah, 3. Al Imran, 29. Al-'Ankabut, 30. Ar-Rum, 31. Luqman, 32. As-Sajdah |
| الٓمٓصٓ | Alif Lam Mim Sad | 7. Al-A'raf |
| الٓر | Alif Lam Ra | 10. Yunus, 11. Hud, 12. Yusuf, 14. Ibrahim, 15. Al-Hijr |
| الٓمٓر | Alif Lam Mim Ra | 13. Ar-Ra'd |
| كٓهيعٓصٓ | Kaf Ha Ya ‘Ayn Sad | 19. Maryam |
| طه | Ta Ha | 20. Ta Ha |
| طسٓمٓ | Ta Sin Mim | 26. Ash-Shu'ara, 28. Al-Qasas |
| طسٓ | Ta Sin | 27. An-Naml |
| يسٓ | Ya Sin | 36. Ya Sin |
| صٓ | Sad | 38. Sad |
| حمٓ | Ha Mim | 40. Ghafir, 41. Fussilat, 43. Az-Zukhruf, 44. Ad-Dukhan, 45. Al-Jathiyah, 46. Al-Ahqaf |
| حمٓ عٓسٓقٓ | Ha Mim, ‘Ayn Sin Qaf | 42. Ash-Shura |
| قٓ | Qaf | 50. Qaf |
| نٓ | Nun | 68. Al-Qalam |
The fourteen letters used are ا ل م ص ر ك ه ي ع ط س ح ق ن. Scholars noted that they are exactly half of the alphabet, and that they include letters from every major group of articulation points; see makharij al-huruf.
How to recite them
- Say the letter’s name: الٓمٓ is “Alif, Lam, Mim”.
- Hold the madd: letters whose names have three sounds with a long vowel in the middle (Lam, Mim, Sad, Qaf, Sin, Kaf, Nun, ‘Ayn) take a necessary madd of six counts. ‘Ayn may also be read with four. See madd in tajweed.
- Two-letter names are short: Ha, Ya, Ta and Ra are held for two counts; Alif has no madd.
- Watch the joins: in الٓمٓ, the mim of “Lam” merges into the next mim with ghunnah: “Alif Laaam-Miiim”.
These are among the clearest examples of madd lazim in the Quran, and a classic test in any tajweed course.
What do they mean? What scholars said
- Known only to Allah. Many early scholars held that their meaning is part of the unseen; we recite them and believe in them without claiming to know their meaning.
- The challenge of the Quran. Many scholars, including az-Zamakhshari and Ibn Kathir, noted that most of these surahs mention the Book right after the letters, as if to say: this Quran is made of the very letters you speak, so produce something like it if you can.
- Names of surahs. Some said they are names of the surahs they open, which is why surahs such as Ta Ha, Ya Sin, Sad and Qaf are named after them.
Claims that the letters hide numerical codes or secret messages have no basis in the Quran or the Sunnah. This topic is part of the wider sciences of the Quran; for more on the structure of the text, see the list of surahs and Surah Maryam, which opens with the longest set.
Frequently asked questions
What do the huroof muqatta‘at mean?
Their exact meaning is known to Allah. Many scholars, including Abu Bakr and ‘Ali according to reports, said they are among the matters whose knowledge Allah kept to Himself. Others offered explanations, the best known being that they point to the Quran’s challenge: it is made of these same letters, yet no one can produce its like.
How many surahs begin with disjointed letters?
29 surahs, using 14 different letters, exactly half of the 28-letter alphabet, in 14 different combinations.
How do I recite the disjointed letters?
Each letter is read by its name, not its sound: الٓمٓ is read “Alif Lam Mim”, not “alam”. Most carry a long madd of six counts, shown by the wavy line above them.
Are the disjointed letters a verse on their own?
In the Kufan count used in the Madinah mushaf, the letters form a separate verse in some surahs (such as Al-Baqarah) and are part of a longer verse in others (such as Yunus).
Recite the opening letters correctly
Three free one-to-one tajweed lessons in UK time. Your teacher checks every madd.