Assalaamu alaykum. What is the meaning of 'Noon' in Surah Noon. In many books of exegesis, we find that the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, have given different meanings; which meaning can we take, or does nobody know about them? May Allaah reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The scholars of Tafseer held different opinions about the disconnected letters at the beginning of some Quranic Chapters such as "Noon" and "Saad" and the like, but some of the prominent scholars are of the preponderant view that these letters are an aspect of the miracles of the Quran and that no one knows their meaning but Allaah.

It is also an indication that the Quran is formed from the like of these letters that constitute the language of the Arabs; yet, the Arabs are unable to formulate words such as the Quran.

Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ameen Ash-Shinqeeti said in his Tafseer entitled Adhwaa’ Al-Bayaan:

“The disconnected letters at the opening of some Quranic chapters, no one knows their real meaning but Allaah as there is no precise evidence from the Book of Allaah, or the Sunnah of the Prophet or the consensus of the scholars, or something from the Arab language about the exact meaning of these disconnected letters. Hence, absolutely ascertaining that their meaning is such and such is issuing a ruling without evidence.

As regards the view that the induction of the Quran proves to be the preponderant view, it is as follows: the disconnected letters that are mentioned at the beginning of the Chapters indicate the miraculous aspect of the Quran and that the whole creation are incapable to bring something like it despite the fact that the Quran is composed of these letters with which they communicate between them. This view was reported by Ar-Raazi in his Tafseer (interpretation of the Quran) from Al-Mubarrid and a group of prominent scholars; also, Al-Qurtubi reported it from Al-Farraa’ and Qutrub, and it is the view that was supported by Az-Zamakhshari in Al-Kash-shaaf.

Ibn Katheer said, 'This is the view held by the prominent Shaykh Imaam Abul-‘Abbaas Ibn Taymiyyah and our honorable Shaykh Abu Al-Hajjaaj Al-Mizzi, and he reported that to me from Ibn Taymiyyah.'

The induction of the Quran that proves that it is the preponderant view is that the Soorahs (Chapters) that begin with these disconnected letters are always followed by words that support the Quran and the statement that it is a miracle and that it is the truth about which there is no doubt. Always mentioning this after these disconnected letters is an inductive proof that the disconnected letters are intended to show the miraculous nature of the Quran and that it is the truth.”

For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 276151.

Allaah knows best.