The Letter Alif (ا): Sacred Meaning, Abjad Value & Spiritual Secrets
By Shakeel Muzaffar | Last Updated: January 6, 2026
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
Alif (ا) is the very first letter of the Arabic alphabet. Like the letter "A" in English, it marks the beginning of everything. But Alif is far more than just a letter. In Islamic tradition, it carries deep spiritual meaning connected to oneness, divine existence, and the beginning of all creation.
Whether you're exploring Arabic numerology (called Abjad), learning about Islamic spirituality, or trying to calculate your name's value, this guide will walk you through everything about Alif in simple, clear terms.
What Is the Arabic Letter Alif?
Alif is the first letter of the 28-letter Arabic alphabet. It looks like a simple vertical line: ا
- Position: 1st letter in Arabic alphabet
- Equivalent: Letter "A" in English
- Abjad Value: 1
- Meaning: Origin, beginning, uprightness
- Spiritual Symbol: Divine unity and oneness
The shape of Alif—a straight vertical line—represents uprightness and singularity. Just like the number 1 stands alone, Alif symbolizes the One who exists without needing anything else: Allah.
🧮 Interactive Abjad Calculator
Type any Arabic letter or word to see its Abjad value instantly
Alif in Abjad Numerology: The Number 1
In the Abjad numerology system (also called Ilm-ul-Adad or Hisab al-Jummal), every Arabic letter has a number value. This system has been used for over 1,200 years across the Arab and Islamic world.
This symbolizes absolute oneness (called Ahadiyyah in Arabic). Since Allah is One, everything in existence traces back to that single divine source.
A Simple Math Example
Here's a way to think about it:
- 0 + 0 = 0 → Without the One, nothing can come into being
- 1 + 0 = 1 → The One remains unchanged
- 1 - 0 = 1 → The One is eternal
Allah existed before creation, and He remains unchanged forever. All existence depends on Him, but He depends on nothing.
| Arabic Letter | Name | Abjad Value | Symbolic Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ا | Alif | 1 | Divine Unity, Beginning |
| ب | Ba | 2 | Duality, Creation's Response |
| م | Meem | 40 | Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Completion |
| ي | Ya | 10 | Divine Knowledge |
Why the Name "Allah" Begins With Alif
The name اﷲ (Allah) is completely unique. It's not a translated word—it's the personal, eternal name of the Creator. You cannot substitute it with generic terms like "God."
✨ Visual Demonstration: The Name Allah
Watch how removing letters still points to Allah
➜ No matter which letters you remove, every form still refers to Allah alone
This shows the perfection and uniqueness of Allah's name. It begins with Alif because Allah is Ahad (The One)—absolute, singular, and without equal.
Alif and Faith (Iman)
Before we were born into this world, our souls made a promise to Allah. The Quran describes this moment:
أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ
"Am I not your Lord?" They said: "Yes, we testify!"
The Hidden Sign of Alif and Ba
Notice something beautiful here:
- Allah's question begins with Alif (أَلَسْتُ)
- Our answer begins with Ba (بَلَىٰ)
Islam: From Alif to Meem
Look at the word Islam in Arabic: اِسْلَام
- It begins with Alif (ا)
- It ends with Meem (م)
The journey begins with Allah, the source of all existence and truth. This represents divine revelation and guidance from the One.
Through prophets, revelation, and divine guidance, the message travels from Allah to humanity across time and history.
Islam reaches its perfection through the final messenger. Meem (with value 40) represents completion and prophetic fulfillment.
This shows that Islam is the complete path: from divine origin (Alif) to prophetic completion (Meem).
Prophet Ibrahim and the Letter Ya
The name of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) appears in the Quran in two different spellings:
- اِبْرَاهِم — Ibrahem (without Ya)
- اِبْرَاهِيم — Ibraheem (with Ya)
The added Ya (ي), which has the Abjad value of 10, represents divine knowledge granted to Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
The Beginning of Revelation: Alif Again
When Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) first appeared to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the very first word he spoke was:
اِقْرَأ
Iqra — Read!
Notice again:
- The first letter spoken by Jibreel: Alif (ا)
- The Prophet's first response began with: Meem (م) (when he said "Ma ana bi-qari" — "I am not a reader")
Once more, Islam unfolds between Alif and Meem—from divine command to human response.
The Perfection of Islam
On the day of Arafat during the Farewell Pilgrimage, Allah revealed:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ
"This day I have perfected your religion for you..."
This verse appears in Surah Al-Ma'idah, which is the first chapter whose name begins with Meem (م).
The word Islam starts with Alif and ends with Meem. This verse about Islam's perfection appears in the first Meem-chapter—showing how Islam is complete and perfect from Alif to Meem.
Allah: The First and The Last
Two of Allah's beautiful names directly connect to Alif:
- Al-Awwal (الْأَوَّلُ) — The First
- Al-Akhir (الْآخِرُ) — The Last
There was nothing before Allah, and there will be nothing after Him. As the great companion Hadrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
"This moment is that very moment."
This means Allah exists in eternal present—beyond time, beyond change, beyond beginning or end.
Names of Allah That Begin With Alif
Several of Allah's 99 beautiful names start with Alif, each revealing an aspect of divine oneness:
- اﷲ Allah — The Supreme Name
- اﻷﺣﺪ Al-Ahad — The One
- اﻷوّل Al-Awwal — The First
- اﻵخر Al-Akhir — The Last
Each name reinforces the theme of oneness, eternity, and divine unity that Alif represents.
Common Questions About Alif
In the Abjad numerology system, Alif has a numerical value of 1. This represents divine unity and oneness, symbolizing Allah's absolute uniqueness as Al-Ahad (The One).
Allah's name begins with Alif because it represents the One who is first, without beginning or end. Since Allah is Ahad (One), His personal name starts with Alif, the letter that symbolizes absolute unity and divine oneness.
Alif symbolizes divine unity, the beginning of creation, uprightness, and oneness. It represents Allah's existence as the First (Al-Awwal) and the Last (Al-Akhir), with its vertical line form pointing toward infinity and divine transcendence.
The word Islam (اِسْلَام) begins with Alif and ends with Meem. This shows the complete journey from divine origin (Alif representing Allah) to prophetic completion (Meem representing Muhammad ﷺ), encapsulating the entire faith.
The first word revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was "Iqra" (Read), which begins with Alif. This was the first letter spoken by Angel Jibreel, marking the beginning of divine revelation and showing how Islam unfolds between Alif and Meem.
Yes! You can use the interactive Abjad calculator above to type any Arabic name or word. The calculator will instantly show you its numerical value by adding up all the letter values.
In Abjad numerology, both Alif and Hamza have the same value of 1. Hamza (ء) represents a glottal stop, while Alif (ا) is the letter itself. When calculating Abjad values, some scholars count them separately, while others treat them as equivalent.
Some Quranic chapters begin with isolated letters like Alif Lam Meem. These are called Muqatta'at (disjoined letters). While their exact meaning is known only to Allah, scholars see them as divine signs. Alif appears in 13 chapters as a Muqatta'at letter, always paired with other letters.
Key Takeaways: What You Need to Remember
- Alif is the first Arabic letter, equivalent to "A" in English
- In Abjad numerology, Alif equals 1, symbolizing divine unity
- Allah's name begins with Alif to show absolute oneness (Ahadiyyah)
- Islam begins with Alif (divine origin) and ends with Meem (prophetic completion)
- The first word of revelation "Iqra" starts with Alif
- Removing letters from Allah's name still points back to Him alone
- Allah is Al-Awwal (The First) and Al-Akhir (The Last)
- The spiritual dialogue between Creator and creation begins with Alif
Final Thoughts
The letter Alif may look simple—just a single vertical line. But within that simplicity lies infinite depth. It represents the One who created everything, the origin of all existence, and the source of all guidance.
Whether you're studying Abjad numerology, exploring Islamic spirituality, or simply curious about Arabic letters, Alif teaches us a profound lesson: everything begins and ends with the One.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَسَلِّمْ
May Allah send peace and blessings upon our Master Muhammad and his family
May Allah grant us knowledge, faith, and closeness to Him. Only Allah knows best.