The Explanation of the Letters of the Alphabet According to Their Numerical Value

When Jesus son of Mary [`Isa ibn Maryam] (AS) was born, he was a day old; however, he looked to be two months old. When he turned seven months old, his mother took him to the teachers of script. She placed him before the teacher, so the teacher said to him: “Say: In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.” Thus, `Isa (AS) said: “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.” Then the teacher said to him: “Say: Abjad (the alphabet).” So `Isa (AS) lifted his head and asked, “Do you know what abjad is?” Hence, the teacher picked up a lash to hit him. Therefore, `Isa (AS) responded, “O teacher, do not hit me. If you do not know the maning, ask me, and I shall it explain it to you.” Thus, the teacher replied, “Explain it to me.” `Isa (AS) explained: The letter [alif] “a” stands for Allah’s Blessings; the letter [ba] “b” stands for Allah’s Joy; the letter [jim] “j” stands for Allah’s Exaltation; the letter [dal] “d” stands for Allah’s Religion. In hawwaz, the letter [ha] “h” stands for the terror of Hell; the letter [wa’u] “w” stands for the affliction for the ones in the Fire; and the letter [za`i] “z” stands for the moaning of Hell. Hutti is for diminishing the mistakes from the seekers of forgiveness. Kaliman is the Word of Allah, there is none that can alter His words. Sa`fas is tit for tat and recompense for recompense. Qarashat is that He assembles them then resurrects them. The teacher then said: “Lady! Take you son away. He is already learned, and is not in need of a teacher.”

Commander of the Faithful said: `Uthman ibn `Affan asked the Messenger of Allah (SA) about the explanation of the alphabet according to their numerical value. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (SA) responded, “Learn the explanation of the alphabet according to its numerical value, for verily, it contains wonders. Shame on the learned who ignore its meaning.” Hence, it was asked: “What is the explanation of the alphabet?” Then he (SA) explained, As for the letter [alif], it stands for the Blessings of Allah. It is a letter from the letters of His Names. The letter [ba] stands for Allah’s Joy; The letter [jim] stands for Allah’s Paradise, His Glory and Exaltation; The letter [dal] sands for Allah’s Religion. As for hawwaz, then the letter [ha] stands for the burning abyss, so affliction is for the ones who are cast in Hell; The letter [wa’u] stands for the affliction for the ones in the Fire; And the letter [za`i] stands for a corner of Hell, thus, we seek refuge in Allah from what is in the corner. As for Hutti, then the letter [ha] is for the diminishing of the mistakes from the seekers of forgiveness in the Night of Power [laylat al-qadr], and what Jibra’il brings down with the angels till the break of the morning; The letter [ta] stands for the Prosperity [tuba], the good End for the believers. It [tuba] is a tree which Allah, the Mighty and High, has planted, and in which He has breathed His Spirit. Verily, its branches are noticeable from behind the enclosure of Paradise. It brings forth pieces of jewellery and drinks ready to fall down unto their mouths; The letter [ya] stands for Allah’s Hand which is expanded over all His Creatures. Glorified and Exalted is He, opposed to what the polytheists profess. As for Kaliman, then the letter [kaf] stands for Allah’s Word, “there is none who can alter His Words; and you shall not find any refuge besides Him.” The letter [lam] stands for the acquaintance [ilmam] of the ones in Paradise with each other in meeting, greeting and salutations, and gathering [talawum] of the ones in Hell with what they have between themselves. The letter [mim] stands for the Sovereignty of Allah, which never declines and the Endlessness of Allah, which never perishes. The letter [nun] stands for “Nun. I swear by the Pen and what they (the Angels) write.” Hence, the pen is from light and the book is from light in the guarded tablet, which the close ones witness and Allah suffices as a witness. As for Sa`fas, then it is tit for tat and precious stone for a precious stone, i.e. recompense for recompense and as you sow so shall you reap. Verily, Allah does not intend oppression for the servants. As for Qarashat, it means that Allah assembles them, then resurrects them, and revives them on the Day of Judgment. He then judges them with righteousness, and they shall not be oppressed in the least.