Abjad

Persian writing uses an abjad.

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
Values of the Arabic abjad numerals.[1]

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]

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ Lewis (1999) states that "Arabic numerals" were in fact developed in India, circa 600 CE.
  3. ↑ "Definitions Of Some Of The Oriental Terms Used In Baha'i Literature". Bahá’í World, Vol. 19, p.735.
  4. ↑ Momen, Wendi (1989). A Basic Bahá’í Dictionary. Oxford: George Ronald. p. 6. ISBN 0-85398-230-9.
  5. ↑ Lewis (1999).

References[edit]

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