SUFI SYMBOLS (page 1)
Alif = a
The alif represents the number
one and belongs to
the element of fire.
Because of its shape the alif
resembles the numeral 1. It symbolizes the
selfness of God as well as His unity. Thus,
this letter takes on the archetypal value
of the whole alphabet, which it begins and
is thus also identified with Adam, the father
of humankind (and thus any diacritical sign
affirming this letter’s value is identified
with Eve).
The three main positions of
the Islamic prayer are:
· Standing, like the alif
· Kneeling, like the dal
· Prostrating, like the mim.
These three letters also make
up the name Adm (Adam). According to the
Sufi Ibn Ata Allah Abbas (d. 1309): “this
name (alif) is derived from ulfa (good company),
because it unites and agrees (ta’lif) with
the other letters”. For some, however, the
alif represents Satan, because like him
it does not bow to God.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh writes about
this letter that it “corresponds with the
obeying the recommendations, which is part
of contraction”.
Sufi interpretation of letter Alif
^^
Ba = b
The letter ba represents the
number two and belongs to the element of
air.
Just as the alif is the first
vertical letter, ba is the first horizontal
letter and it is suitable for representing
other letters such as ta, tha and nun, according
to the diacritical signs placed above or
below the stroke. It is the initial letter
par excellence, because it opens the basmala
(In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful), the formula with which all the
suras of the Qur’an, except for the ninth,
begin. The Bible, incidentally, also begins
with a B.
The diacritical sign placed
below the stroke represents, for Sufis,
the origin, essence and being of all things,
in strict analogy with the bindu (.) of
Tantrism and Yoga. For this reason some
esoterically inclined Muslims believe that
the content of all revealed Scripture:
1. is found in the Qur’an
2. in turn that the content of the Qur’an
is found all in the first sura, the Fatiha
3. that all the content of the Fatiha resides
in the basmala
4. and the whole content of the basmala
is enclosed insides B’s diacritical point.
This exegesis was accepted
by, among others Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (seventh
century) and Abd al-Karim al-Jili (d. 1494)
according to whom the B of Bismi represents
the resplendent beauty of God (Bahaa’),
the S his greatness (Sanaa’) and the L his
sovereignty (Mamlaka).
According to shaykh ad-Dabbaagh
the Ba corresponds to inner peace, which
is part of the message.
^^
Ta = t
This letter represents number
four hundred and belongs to the element
of air.
This letter has great esoteric
value, especially for the Sufis, because
it is the first letter of the term tawhid,
the science of professing God and His singleness
(wahda) and so it symbolizes monotheism,
faith in the oneness of God. It also symbolizes
the state of ecstasy, the discovery of and
return to God (tawba). In this respect,
the great Sufi martyr Hosayn Mansur al-Hallaj
(857-922) wrote a poem (Muhatta’at # 40
with a mim rhyme and a wafer meter) wherein
he traces the word tawhid through enigmas:
“Three letters without diacritical signs,
two with signs and this is the whole speech.
The first designates those who find it and
the other serves for everyone to say ‘yes’.
As to the other letters, it is the mystery
of the night, where it is no longer a question
of travelling or stopping”.
Explaining the above, we note
that in Arabic the term tawhid is written
with two letters, each of which has two
diacritical signs, the ta and the ya, and
three letters without signs: the waw, the
ha and the dal.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh says about
the ta that it corresponds to the perfection
of the apparent senses, being a part of
the Adamic state.
^^
Tha = th
In the science of the secrets
of letters this letter represents number
five hundred and belongs to the element
of water.
It is a symbol of consolidation
(thobut).
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh writes that
the tha corresponds to justice, which is
a part of contraction.
^^
Jim = j
The fifth letter in the Arabic
alphabet represents number three and belongs
to the element of water.
In the art of tajwid (reciting
the Qur’an) it has the characteristics of
sonority, tonicity and softening and the
antonymies of vibration, lowering and opening.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs us that the ‘jim’
corresponds to patience, which is a part
of prophecy.
^^
Ha = h
The sixth letter in the Arab
alphabet represents number eight and belongs
to the element of earth.
This letter, which symbolizes
human intuition, has an esoteric meaning
for the Sufis, as it is the first letter
of the verb habba (to love): “Inna Allah
jameel yuhibbu al-jamaal”, which means “truly
God is beautiful and loves beauty”. Thus
also the saying: “Habba man habba wakariha
man kariha” or “He loves whomsoever He chooses
to and He hates whomsoever He wishes to”.
The letter ‘ha’ denotes the Essence in terms
of appearance, presence and existence.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs
us that the ‘ha’ corresponds to perfect
mercy, which is a part of prophecy.
^^
Kha = kh
According to the science of
the secrets of letters the ‘kha’ represents
number six hundred and belongs to the element
earth.
In the esoteric literature
of the Sufi brotherhoods it symbolizes the
eternal good (khayr daa’im).
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs
us that the ‘kha’ corresponds to the experience
(‘taste’) of lights, which is a part of
the spirit.
^^
Dal = d
In the science of the secrets
of letters it represents number four and
belongs to the element of earth.
According to the Sufis and
in the contemplations of the Hurufi it symbolizes
the equilibrium of all things created. Because
of all this and also because it is the initial
letter of the verb daaba fi aaw ‘alaa (to
work; to labour; to be committed; to make
an effort in something for someone; to work
with commitment, to do something with effort;
to labour unceasingly; to apply oneself;
to dedicate oneself; to be constant; to
become accustomed to) in the esoterical
world this letter represents the earthly
condition of human beings who are forced
to labour in the realm of material things,
but must also evolve spiritually and strive
to behave in the best possible way among
a multitude of challenges and temptations.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs
us that the ‘dal’ corresponds to purity,
which is a part of the spirit.
^^
Dhal = dh
In the ‘elm al-horuf it represents
number seven hundred. It belongs to the
element of fire.
In Sufi esoteric knowledge
it symbolizes the heart of an idea, the
kernel of a thing.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs
us that the ‘dhal’ corresponds to the knowledge
of languages, which is a part of science.
^^
Ra = r
The tenth letter of the Arab
alphabet represents number two hundred and
belongs to the element of earth.
It symbolizes a part, a message,
the sura.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs us that the ‘ra’
corresponds to the noble conquest of the
self, which is a part of expansion.
^^
Za = z
Za represents number seven
and belongs to the element of water.
It symbolizes achievement.
In esoteric alchemy it represents the process
of change, because it is the initial letter
of the terms
- mercury (zaybaq)
- vitriol (zaaj)
- sulphuric acid (zayb, zaagin
‘Zaar’ is also the exorcism
practiced by women.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs
us that the ‘za’ corresponds to sincerity
with everyone, which is a part of the message.
^^
Sin = s
In the science of the secrets
of the letters it represents number sixty
and belongs to the element of water, though
in North Africa it is believed to belong
to the element of fire.
It symbolizes the glory of
God.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs
us that the ‘sin’ corresponds to the act
of ‘lowering the wing of tenderness with
goodness’, which is a part of expansion.
^^
Shin = sh
In the science of the secrets
of the letters it represents number three
hundred and belongs to the element of fire,
while in North Africa it is believed to
belong to the element of earth.
The ‘shin’ or sh is the abrevation
of sharia: path, way. In Sufi esoteric knowledge
this letter symbolizes personal destiny.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs us that the ‘shin’
corresponds to the complete force in the
introversion, which is a part of contraction.
^^
Saad = s
The ‘saad’ is the fourteenth
letter of the Arab alphabet. In the ‘ilm
al-horuf it represents number ninety and
belongs to the element of water.
It symbolizes sincerity and
truth.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs
us that the ‘saad’ corresponds to the perfect
reason, which is a part of the Adamic state.
^^
Daad = d
‘Daad’ is the fifteenth letter
of the Arab alphabet. It represents number
eight hundred and belongs to the element
of air.
It symbolizes ‘to disclose’.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs
us that the ‘daad’ corresponds to the act
of saying nothing but the truth, which is
a part of prophecy.
^^
Taa = t
‘Taa’ is the sixteenth letter
of the Arab alphabet. It represents number
nine and belongs to the element of fire.
In the esoteric texts of the
Sufi masters this letter, taken in isolation,
symbolizes divine holiness.
Shaykh ad-Dabbaagh informs
us that the ‘taa’ corresponds to discernment,
which is a part of the spirit.
^^
