1 Preface الر ۚ تِلكَ آياتُ الكِتابِ وَقُرآنٍ مُبينٍYusuf AliA. L. R.1 These are the Ayat2 of Revelation,- of a Qur?###an that makes things clear.3For these mystic letters, see Introduction to Sūra 10.Cf. 10:1. and n. 1382.Note how appropriately the different phrases in which the Qur-ān is characterised bring out its different aspects as a Revelation. Let us just consider the phrases used at the beginning of the six Alif, Lam, Mim Sūras of which this is the last in order of arrangement. In 10:1 we read, “Ay at (or verses or Signs) of the Book of Wisdom”, the theme being the wonders of God’s creation, and its relation to His Revelation. In 11:1 we read, “a Book, with verses basic or fundamental, further explained in detail”: the theme is God’s Justice and Punishment, to preserve the fundamental scheme of His Laws. In 12:1 we read, “The Symbols (or verses) of the Perspicuous Book”: the wonderful unfolding of God’s Plan is explained in Joseph’s story. In 13:1 we read, “The Signs (or verses) of the Book”: the contrasts in the modes of God’s Revelation and its reception by man are pointed out, but not illustrated by detailed examples as in Joseph’s perspicuous story. In 14:1 we read “A Book . . . revealed ... to lead ... out of... darkness into light”: the theme being Abraham’s prayer for man to be rescued from the darkness of false worship into the light of Unity. Here in 15:1 we read, “Ayat (or verses) of Revelation-of a Qur-ān that makes things clear (or perspicuous)”: the theme being an explanation of evil, and how God’s Truth is protected from it.