The Sirr of the Divine Name, “Allah”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is a spiritual understanding of “Alif-Lam-Lam-Ha’”: “Allah”. 

“Alif” represents the beginning, being the first letter of the Name, “Allah”.  Looking at the Asma’ al-Husna, “Alif” is still the first of every name.  We do not say “Rahman”; we say “ar-Rahman”, for example, and that applies to all the other Names.  “Alif” is always standing.  It describes akhirah.  “Islam”, “iman”, “ihsan”; the words related to akhirah begin with “Alif”.  “Alif” also represents the qiyam at the beginning of swalah, when the takbir is said. 

If we take away the Alif, what remains of the Name, “Allah” is the “Lam-Lam-Ha’”, which is read as “Lillahi”.  It means, “for the Sake of Allah”, or “it Belongs to Allah”.  So that first letter demonstrates to us the meaning of the Name “Allah”.  If we take it away, it shows us what is other than Allah (s.w.t.), Creation – “Lam-Lam-Ha’”.  With Allah (s.w.t.), Creation cannot exist.  “Alif” refers to Allah (s.w.t.).  Once we take it away, it becomes dunya, all that is other than Him. 

When we remove the first “Lam”, we are left with “Lam-Ha’”, “Lahu”; everything is for Him.  We do not own ourselves, or anything for that matter.  He Owns it.  We do not even own the next breath or the next heartbeat, such is our poverty. 

When we take away the second “Lam”, we are left with the “Ha’”.  It is read as “Hu”, “He”; or “Huwa”, “His”.  Whatever we think we do, whatever we think we are, whatever we think we know; it still comes back to Allah (s.w.t.).  And that is why Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

… إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٲجِعُونَ (١٥٦) 

“To Allah we Belong and to Him is our Return.” (Surah al-Baqarah:156) 

In essence, the “Alif” is for “Allah”.  The first “Lam” represents akhirah, and is known as ‘alam al-malakut, the ghayb.  The second “Lam” represents ‘alam al-mulk, dunya.  When we remove these two kingdoms, what remains is “Hu”.  This means that, in reality, there is nothing except Him.  Between the “Alif” and the “Ha’”, between the beginning and end, the Alpha and the Omega; there is nothing except Allah (s.w.t.).  And that is why our Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was Ordered to say: 

سُوۡرَةُ الإخلاص

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (١) 

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Say: He is Allah the One and Only; (Surah al-Ikhlasw:1) 

The Divine Name used here is Ahad, which is more explicit than al-Wahid.  The emphasis is that Allah (s.w.t.) is Unique, and that nothing shares in any of His Attributes, including Existence.