Blog posts tagged with '#letters'

Essence of the Surah:

Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad), the 112th chapter of the Qur’an, is among the shortest yet most profound surahs. In just a few verses, it summarizes the principle of tawhid—the absolute oneness and uniqueness of God. By declaring “Allah is One,” “eternal,” “self-sufficient,” and beyond human attributes such as birth or lineage, the surah negates all forms of polytheism and affirms pure monotheism. For this reason, it has often been described as equal in meaning to one-third of the Qur’an.

Siurce of the picture: https://quran2hadith.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/quran-chapter-112-quran-translation-of-surah-al-ikhlas-ihsan

Significance in Islamic Tradition:

Throughout Islamic history, Surah Al-Ikhlas has been recited for protection, blessing, and spiritual strength. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) frequently emphasized its virtues. It became a central part of daily prayers, supplications, and devotional practices among Muslims of both Sunni and Shia traditions.

In Art, Architecture, and Material Culture:

Because of its brevity and profound meaning, Surah Al-Ikhlas has been widely inscribed on objects of art and devotion. In Islamic calligraphy, it is commonly written on Qur’anic manuscripts, mosque walls, and decorative panels. In architecture, its verses appear on mihrabs, domes, and tiles as reminders of God’s unity.

The surah has also been engraved on jewelry, such as rings and amulets, serving as a spiritual emblem of protection and remembrance of God. Some ceremonial weapons and banners in Islamic history were decorated with Qur’anic verses—including passages from Surah Al-Ikhlas—as a sign of divine support and blessing, though this was less common compared to the frequent use of Ayat al-Kursi.

Surah Al-Ikhlas Yellow agate hand-engraved ring in Ildirimjewelry store:

In Hadith and Religious Teachings:

• Shia sources: Imams from the Prophet’s household emphasized the surah’s power. Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq, for example, is reported to have said that frequent recitation of Surah Al-Ikhlas brings closeness to God and spiritual purity.
• Sunni sources: In Sahih traditions, the Prophet is narrated to have said that reciting this surah equals one-third of the Qur’an. He also taught that its recitation brings immense reward and divine love.

Views of Mystics and Philosophers:

• Mystics (Sufis): Figures like Rumi and Ibn Arabi saw Surah Al-Ikhlas as a gateway to divine unity. For them, its words were not merely statements of doctrine, but invitations to experience the oneness of God in the heart and soul.
• Philosophers: Thinkers such as Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and Mulla Sadra reflected on the surah in their metaphysical writings, interpreting “Allah is One” as proof of God’s absolute simplicity and self-subsistence, beyond matter and multiplicity.

By Ildirimjewelry

Nun is the fourteenth letter of both the Arabic and the Hebrew alphabets and it has the numerical value of 50. It holds however a more particularly significant place in the Arabic alphabet of which it terminates the first half, and the total number of Arabic letters is 28.

Nun letter in Arabic

This letter in Islamic tradition, as representing al-Hut, the whale, and because of that Prohpet Yunus (the prophet Jonah) is called Dhun-Nun (The companion of the whale), the whale in the story of Prophet Yunus, doesn’t only have the meaning ‘fish-saviour ’ but also in the truth, it means the ark or the ship, In fact, Prohpet Yunus captives in the body of the whale, like Noah in the ark, during a period that is for him, and also for the outer world, a period of obscuration and darkness corresponding to the interval between two states or two modalities of existence which, one is finished and another one is beginning. Moreover, Prohpet Yunus’s egression from the the whale has always been regarded as a symbol of resurrection and therefore, the passage to a new state or a new birth.

Arabic "Nun" letter in Persian Nast'aliq script in Ildirimjewelry store:

https://www.ildirimjewelry.com/arabic-nun-letter-ring

The shape on letter “Nun” consists of the lower half of a circumference and a point that is in the center, and the lower half-circumference is also the figure of an ark floating on the waters, and the point within, represents the seed enveloped or contained therein. The central position of this point shows, ‘seed of immortality’ and being safe from all the outward dissolutions. This fact that half-circumference is downward, represents the meaning of the “Matrix” which the not-yet-developed seed is in it and this point or the seed in the letter of “Nun” represents the meaning of the heart in the individuality and that is the ‘seed of immortality’ and the growing or the development of the spiritual seed implies that the being leaves its individual state and the cosmic setting to which it belongs, like Prohpet Yunus’s egression from the body of the whale that causes reviving and the new birth necessarily needs death to the former state, whether it be an individual or a world.

Death and birth or resurrection, are two aspects that are inseparable one from another, Nun in the alphabet immediately follows “Mim”, which has among its principal significations that of death (al-mawt).

Mim letter in Arabic

The symbolism of the whale has not only a benefic aspect, but also a malefic one which, and connected to both of death and birth, like the role of the whale in the story of Prohpet Yunus.

In the book of Meccan revelations from Ibn Arabi which is an important book about the science of letters, there is a word “Bas’et” of letters which means the components of letters and Ibn Arabi has used this word.

Components of the shapes of letters which is about the outer view of them and the letter “Nun”, is a combination of letters “Ra” = ر and “Za” (ز). It seems that Ibn Arabi has used some knowledge’s about calligraphy and we can understand it from his books. Ibn Arabi considers the nature of “Nun” to be cold and dry and knows earth as the element of “Nun” and these knowledge’s are connected with Alchemy and the old astronomy.  The important point in researching about the shapes of letters from their outer view, is that maybe the opinions of Ibn Arabi about the outer view of letters, like what he has said about them like a letter is the result of combination of two other letters, have spiritual and mystic manifestation that shows the resulted letter has the power of two letters which made the resulted letter.

By Ildirimjewelry

In Islamic terminology, dhikr(Zikr) refers to the repetition or saying specific words or phrases which are usually from the Quran, hadiths, or the Names of God, with the aim of becoming closer to God, seeking His help and forgiveness, and strengthening the faith or acquiring the attributes of those names of God. This practice is one of the most important acts of worship in Islam and is emphasized in all Islamic sects.

Dhikr Yunusiyeh is actually a prayer that Prophet Yunus (Prophet Jonah) was repeating for God's help in a very difficult situation when he was in the belly of the whale. This dhikr is found in the Holy Quran, (Surah Anbiyyah, verse 87), and it’s meaning is: There is no god except You, you are pure and glorious, indeed I was from wrongdoers.

In Surah Saffat (verses: 43,44) is mentioned about Prophet Yunus: If had he not been one of those who glorify God (probably this praying was dhikr Yunusiyeh), He would certainly have remained inside the Fish till the Day of Resurrection.

Dhikr Yunesiyeh in square Kufic script ring in Ildirimjewelry store: https://www.ildirimjewelry.com/dhikr-yunesiyeh-square-kufic-ring

Islamic ethics and mysticism scholars strongly emphasize the repeating this dhikr, especially during prostration.

The most important and common benefits of saying and repeating Dhikr Yunusiyeh are:

Purify the spirit and aiding in attaching angelic stations

Getting calmness,

Increasing hope,

Disappearing and reducing sadness and sorrow and…

Imam Sadiq (pbuh), the 6^th Imam of Shias, has said, "I am amazed at someone who is sorrowful and yet does not say this dhikr: There is no god except You, you are pure and glorious, indeed I was from wrongdoers.', because God says afterwards in Quran: 'So We answered his praying and brought him out from Abyss of sorrow. And thus We save the believers (Surah Anbiyah, verse 87)".

By Ildirimjewelry