An Abjad is a type of writing system in which each letter denotes a consonant, leaving vowels implied. Abjads can be distinguished from alphabets, which include vowels as separate letters, and abugidas, in which letters represent consonant-vowel pairs (a type of syllabary). Abjads are primarily a feature of Semitic languages, such as Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian.
Abjad numerals[edit]
| á/' ا | 1 | y/í ي | 10 | q ق | 100 |
| b ب | 2 | k ك | 20 | r ر | 200 |
| j ج | 3 | l ل | 30 | sh ش | 300 |
| d د | 4 | m م | 40 | t ت | 400 |
| h ه | 5 | n ن | 50 | th ث | 500 |
| w/ú و | 6 | s س | 60 | kh خ | 600 |
| z ز | 7 | ` ع | 70 | dh ذ | 700 |
| ḥ ح | 8 | f ف | 80 | ḍ ض | 800 |
| ṭ ط | 9 | ṣ ص | 90 | ẓ ظ | 900 |
| gh غ | 1000 |
Before the adoption of positional arabic numerals,[2] the Arabic language assigned numerical values to the 28 letters of the Arabic abjad; these are known as Abjad numerals, and the system as the Abjad notation system.[3] Shoghi Effendi explained that both Arabic and Hebrew use this system and that it was commonly used among the educated class during the time of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.[4] This system adds another layer of meaning to words and phrases found in the Bahá’í Writings.
Examples[edit]
The most common example involves the name Bahá (Arabic: بهاء; as in Bahá’u’lláh), which is given a value of nine. This value is calculated by adding the values of the individual letters in the word: ب (b) = 2; ه (h) = 5; ا (á) = 1; and hamza (ء) also has a value of 1,[5] for a total of 9. Because of its association with the name "Bahá", nine is a commonly used number in the Bahá’í Faith, for example in architecture, art and in the number of members on a Spiritual Assembly.
Other examples include:
- Báb ( باب ), "gate"
- value of 5 (2 + 1 + 2)
- Váḥid ( واحد ), "unity"
- value of 19 (6 + 1 + 8 + 4)
- Kull-i-Shay’ ( كل شىء ), "all things"
- value of 361 ( 20 + 30 + 300 + 10 + 1 )
- The Basmala ( بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ), the opening words of the Qur'an - "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"
- value of 768 ( 2 + 60 + 40 + 1 + 30 + 30 + 5 + 1 + 30 + 200 + 8 + 40 + 50 + 1 + 30 + 200 + 8 + 10 + 40 )
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ As used in the Levant and Islamic East. According to Lewis (1999), the following values were used in the Maghreb (Spain and North Africa): ṣ= 60, ḍ= 90, s= 300, ẓ= 800, gh= 900, sh=1000.
- ↑ Lewis (1999) states that "Arabic numerals" were in fact developed in India, circa 600 CE.
- ↑ "Definitions Of Some Of The Oriental Terms Used In Baha'i Literature". Bahá’í World, Vol. 19, p.735.
- ↑ Momen, Wendi (1989). A Basic Bahá’í Dictionary. Oxford: George Ronald. p. 6. ISBN 0-85398-230-9.
- ↑ Lewis (1999).
References[edit]
- Frank Lewis (1999). Overview of the abjad numerological system.
