Abjad for “Jim”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

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

The Arabic letter “Jim” is equivalent to the letter “J” in the English alphabet.  It is the fifth letter in the Arabic character set.  “Jim” has the value of 3.  In the Qur’an, there are exactly three chapters that have names starting with the letter “Jim”.  These three chapters are Chapter 45, al-Jatsiyah; Chapter 62, al-Juma’ah; and Chapter 72, al-Jinn. 

The first chapter with its name starting with the letter “Jim”, al-Jatsiyah, means to crouch, or bow, specifically to Allah (s.w.t.). 

سُوۡرَةُ الجَاثیَة

وَتَرَىٰ كُلَّ أُمَّةٍ۬ جَاثِيَةً۬‌ۚ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ۬ تُدۡعَىٰٓ إِلَىٰ كِتَـٰبِہَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ تُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ (٢٨) 

And you will see every nation bowing the knee: every nation will be called to its Record: “This Day shall you be recompensed for all that you did!” (Surah al-Jatsiyah:28) 

Firstly, we must die without a doubt in our heart.  When a person dies, we pray for the deceased.  This funeral prayer is called the janazah.  When a Muslim passes away, after the formalities of washing the body, the relatives, friends and acquaintances, gather for the janazah prayer.  The word “janazah” starts with the letter “Jim”, and it involves three things, which is the numerical value of “Jim”. 

The janazah consists of four takbirat, exclamations of “Allahu Akbar”, “Allah is Great”.  The takbir is said four times because we are created from four elements: earth, fire, water and air.  The four takbirat remind the deceased that he is made of four elements.  Conversely, when a child is born, the adzan is said in the ears of the newborn.  The first words that the newborn hears are the four takbirat.  When we die, the last thing we hear are the four takbirat.  We have completed our physical journey.  We have completed one complete circle. 

There are three things involved in the janazah.  This is equivalent to the numerical value of “Jim”.  After the niyyah, intention, for prayer, the imam pronounces the first takbir.  After the first takbir, there is the recitation of sana, the glorification and praise for Allah (s.w.t.).  After the second takbir, we recite the swalawat upon Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).  After the third takbir, we recite the du’a janazah.  The du’a janazah is asking Allah (s.w.t.) to Forgive everyone, especially the deceased.  After the fourth takbir, we say the salaam, and the prayer is complete.  The deceased is then buried. 

Overall, three things are required for the deceased: the washing of the body; reciting the du’a janazah; and burying the body.  The janazah is one form of gathering.  The other sort of gathering is the juma’ah.  This is the Friday prayer.  The day is also called Juma’ah, based on the gathering. There is a subtlety here with chapter number.  Allah (s.w.t.) Chose the day of Juma’ah for the Muslims.  It is the day of collective praise for Allah (s.w.t.).  It is the day of Gathering.  Normally, the fardh of zhuhr is four raka’ah.  But on Juma’ah, the fardh is reduced to two raka’ah. 

There is another creation about which Allah (s.w.t.) has informed us in the Qur’an.  They are the jinn. The third and final chapter named with the initial letter, “Jim”, is Surah Jinn.  A lot has been written about jinn by other people.  The majority of the jinn are immoral or amoral, except for those who have accepted the Guidance of Allah (s.w.t.). 

The letter, “Jim”, is about Juma’ah.  The ultimate Juma’ah will take place on the Day of Judgement, where all the people, human and jinn, will be gathered awaiting news of their fate, whether Jannah or Jahannam.