طسٓ ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَكِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
26:2; 28:2.
15:2; 26:3; 28:3.
Commentary:
For a general discussion about abbreviated letters see 2:2 & 19:2 and about طس see 26:2.
It is significant that whereas 26th and 28th chapters which have the abbreviated letters طسم in their beginning open with the verse "These are the verses of the clear Book", the present Surah which is prefixed with طس begins with the verse, "These are verses of the Quran, and of an illuminating Book." This shows that while in the former two Surahs the Quran was alluded to only with reference to Moses’ Book, in the present Surah it has been mentioned expressly and by name, as in the verse under comment as well as in vv. 7, 93.
One more fact deserves special notice. The verse has used two descriptive words for the Quran, viz. کتاب i.e. the Book and القرآن the Quran. The use of these two words implies a mighty prophecy that the Holy Book of Islam will continue to be preserved in the form of a book till the end of time and that it will be widely studied and read, the word قرآن meaning a book that is read. This prophecy was made at a time when the very art of printing had not yet been known and it was made to a people most of whom could not even read or write. The prophecy has met with marvellous fulfilment. Even the most hostile opponent of Islam can hardly deny the fact that no other book is so widely and frequently read as the Quran. The famous German orientalist Nöldeke writes: "Since the use of the Koran in public worship, in schools and otherwise, is much more extensive than, for example, the reading of the Bible in most Christian countries, it has been truly described as the most widely read book in existence" (Enc. Bri. 9th edit. vol. 16, p.597).
26:2; 27:2; 28:2.
15:2; 26:3; 28:3.
For a general discussion of the abbreviated letters see {16} and {1738} and about Ta Sin, see {2094}. It is significant that whereas the 26th and 28th Chapters which have the abbreviated letters Ta Sin Mim in their beginning, open with the verse, These are verses of the Book that makes things clear, the present Surah which is prefixed with the letters Ta Sin begins with the verse, These are verses of the Qur’an, and of an illuminating Book. This shows that while in the former two Chapters the Qur’an is alluded to only with reference to Moses’s Book, in the present Surah it has been mentioned by name, in its own right as in the verse under comment as well as in vv. 7 and 93.
The use of 'Al-Qur’an' and 'the Book' as qualifying words implies a mighty prophecy that the Holy Book of Islam will continue to be preserved in the form of a book till the end of time and that it will be widely studied and read, the word Qur’an meaning a book that is read. 'Since the use of the Koran in public worship, in schools and otherwise, is much more extensive than, for example, the reading of the Bible in most Christian countries, it has been truly described as the most widely read book in existence' (Enc. Bri. 9th edit. vol. 16, p. 597).