First Last, Beginning End, Alpha Omega, Alef Tav 57:3 True Meaning
-
573 is a verse widely misunderstood. It actually deals with consciousness, however most think it deals with "everything" or something else.
Some utter it as a quasi-understandable statement, without an accepted meaning.http//www.islamawakened.com/Quran/57/3/
From the various translations, we can see that "everything" is the typical understanding of the phrase.
Qaribullah "He is the First and the Last, the Clear and the Hidden. He has knowledge of all things."
seems to be the closest.The true translation of this verse, and meaning, is
"He is the First Word, and the Last Word, The Evident and The Innermost."
It is a statement about immanence.
We find the expression in the bible aswell, as alef-tav.
And Jesus says, he is the "alpha-omega" which means the same.
Alef is the first letter in the hebrew alphabet.
Tav is the last letter in the hebrew alphabet.Originally it read, First Sign, Last Sign, and was simply denoted A-Z. (or alef-tav).
And in this context, sign can also mean word.You also find the expression in the Bible, John God was the word. (I don't know if is has been mistaken for "was" here, as sometimes happens in translation.)
Some hinduism also states the same. And that might be remains of the original Abrahamic faith.
I understand the phrase alef-tav, as "To listen to mind alone, is to worship the one God."
Peace be with you.