Abjad for “Alif”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Arabic numerology is known as abjad.  This article is about the spiritual meaning of the letter, Alif. 

The Arabic letter, Alif, is equivalent to the letter “A” in the English alphabet.  It is the first letter in the Arabic alphabet, and has the value of 1.  Alif is the first letter in the Name, Allah.  Everything is Created by Allah (s.w.t.), and so everything begins in the Name of Allah (s.w.t.).  Allah (s.w.t.) is Ahad, One.  This Name also starts with the letter, Alif.  When Allah (s.w.t.) Creates, there is no change in Him.  He is as He was.  As a reflection of Allah’s (s.w.t.) Existence, everything else exists.  Nothing exists independent of Allah’s (s.w.t.) Existence. 

“Allah” is Ism adz-Dzat, His Personal Name.  Allah (s.w.t.) Named Himself “Allah”.  Therefore, the Name “Allah” is Special.  Consider, the Name “Allah”, and take away the first letter, “Alif”, we arrive at “Lillah”.  If we now take away the first “Lam” from “Lillah”, we arrive at “Lahu”.  If we now take away the next “Lam” from “Lahu”, we arrive at “Hu”.  In each instance, we are referring to Allah (s.w.t.) and no one else. 

Allah (s.w.t.) is the al-Awwal, the First and He is al-Akhir, the Last.  The First Existence is Allah (s.w.t.) and there was nothing with Him.  In the end there will be Allah (s.w.t.) and there will be nothing with Him.  Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib (k.w.) said, “This moment is that very moment.”