The Letter Ha (ه): Breath, Life & The Power of Five
By Shakeel Muzaffar | Last Updated: January 9, 2026
Ha (ه) is the 5th letter of the Arabic alphabet with an Abjad value of 5. Representing breath, life, and divine existence, Ha appears twice in Allah's name (الله), symbolizing the giving and sustaining of life. The number 5 structures Muslim life through the Five Pillars of Islam, five daily prayers, and five senses - all channels of divine guidance.
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
After Alif (1), Ba (2), Jim (3), and Dal (4) comes Ha (ه)—the fifth letter that represents breath, life, and existence itself.
Ha is more than just a sound. It's the breath (h-sound) of creation, the letter that appears twice in Allah's name (الله), and the foundation of Islamic practice through the Five Pillars and five daily prayers. This letter teaches us that life itself is a divine breath, and through five sacred practices, we return that breath in gratitude.
What Is the Arabic Letter Ha (ه)?
Ha is the fifth letter of the 28-letter Arabic alphabet in Abjad order. Its sound is a gentle breath - the voiceless glottal fricative [h]: ه
- Position: 5th letter in Abjad order, 26th in modern Arabic alphabet
- Origin: From Phoenician/Hebrew "He" meaning "window" or "breath"
- Equivalent: Letter "H" in English (breath sound)
- Abjad Value: 5
- Meaning: Breath, life, existence, presence
- Spiritual Symbol: Divine breath, guidance (Hidayat), existence (Huwa)
- In Allah's Name: Appears twice (الله)
- Special Feature: Opening letter of Surahs Maryam (19) and Ta Ha (20)
Ha appears in the name of Allah (الله) twice: A-L-L-H. The Abjad value of Allah is: 1 + 30 + 30 + 5 = 66. Those two Ha letters symbolize the dual breath of existence—inhale and exhale, giving and sustaining.
✨ Ha: The Divine Breath
The two Ha letters in Allah (الله) represent the continuous cycle of divine breath—Allah gives life, and we return it through worship and gratitude.
🧮 Interactive Abjad Calculator
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What Is Ha in Abjad Numerology?
In the Abjad system (also called Hisab al-Jummal in Arabic: حِسَاب ٱلْجُمَّل, or Ilm-ul-Adad / Ilm al-Adad), Ha has the numerical value 5. This ancient Arabic numerology system, similar to Hebrew Gematria (where He = 5) and Greek Isopsephy (where Epsilon = 5), assigns numerical values to each of the 28 Arabic letters.
The number 5 carries profound significance across Islamic life, spiritual practice, and human experience:
This symbolizes life, breath, guidance, and the five foundations of Islamic practice. Five represents the structure through which Muslims connect with Allah—five pillars, five prayers, five senses—all pathways to divine presence.
The Sacred Significance of Five in Islam
The number 5 structures the entire framework of Muslim life:
- Five Pillars of Islam – The foundation of faith
- Five Daily Prayers – Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha
- Five Senses – Channels of guidance (hearing, sight, touch, smell, taste)
- Five Fingers – Used in counting prayers and tasbeeh
- Five Chapters Begin with Ha – Opening letters in Quran
"These five senses are servants for the believers and masters for the disbelievers. Believers use their senses to gather information and recognize Allah, while disbelievers are enslaved by their senses."
🕌 The Five Pillars of Islam
These five pillars mirror Ha's value of 5—structuring Muslim life around connection to Allah.
The Complete Journey: From One to Five
| Letter | Value | Symbolism | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ا | 1 | Divine Unity | Allah alone, singularity, the source |
| ب | 2 | Duality | Creation responds, pairs form, dialogue begins |
| ج | 3 | Plurality | Community forms, gathering happens, strength multiplies |
| د | 4 | Foundation | Stability achieved, cosmic order established |
| ه | 5 | Life & Practice | Breath of existence, structured worship, living faith |
➜ The complete journey: One (Source) → Two (Response) → Three (Community) → Four (Foundation) → Five (Living Practice)
The concept of "five" as life and breath appears universally across ancient alphabetic numeral systems:
- Arabic Abjad: Ha (ه) = 5 → Breath, life, existence
- Hebrew Gematria: He (ה) = 5 → Window, breath, divine presence
- Greek Isopsephy: Epsilon (Ε) = 5 → Breath vowel sound
- Phoenician: He = 5 → Window (opening for breath/light)
Across all traditions, the fifth letter represents breath—the fundamental sign of life and divine presence.
Why Does Ha Appear Twice in Allah?
The Structure of Allah (الله)
Allah's name has four letters but Ha appears twice:
Alif (ا) = 1
Lam (ل) = 30
Lam (ل) = 30
Ha (ه) = 5
Total: 1 + 30 + 30 + 5 = 66
But wait—there are two Ha letters in the name, not just one. Why only count 5 once?
Answer: In written form, Allah is spelled with only one visible Ha at the end. But when pronounced, there's a subtle hidden Ha sound within the doubled Lam (Lam-Lam-Ha). This represents:
- Visible Ha – The explicit, manifest presence of Allah
- Hidden Ha – The subtle, hidden breath within all existence
Together, these two Ha letters symbolize inhale and exhale—the continuous divine breath that gives and sustains all life.
What Does Ha Teach Us About Guidance?
1. Hidayat (Guidance) Begins with Ha
The Arabic word for guidance is Hidayat (هداية)—it begins with Ha.
This is no coincidence. Guidance is the breath of Allah flowing through revelation, teaching us how to live. The five senses are channels through which we receive this guidance:
- Hearing – We hear the Quran and teachings
- Sight – We observe Allah's signs in creation
- Touch – We feel the earth and prostrate in prayer
- Smell – We smell the fragrance of faith and good character
- Taste – We taste halal provisions and learn discipline
2. Huwa (He/Him) Begins with Ha
The divine pronoun Huwa (هو) means "He" or "Him"—referring to Allah. It begins with Ha.
هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ
"He is Allah, there is no deity except Him."
Ha is the breath that announces divine presence. When we say "Huwa," we're exhaling the acknowledgment of His existence.
3. Hayy (The Living) Begins with Ha
One of Allah's names is Al-Hayy (الحيّ)—The Living, The Ever-Living. It begins with Ha.
Life itself begins with breath. When Allah created Adam, He breathed into him His spirit. That breath—symbolized by Ha—transformed clay into living flesh.
Common Questions About Ha
In the Abjad numerology system (Hisab al-Jummal), Ha has a numerical value of 5. This represents life, breath, the five senses, five pillars of Islam, and five daily prayers. Ha appears twice in Allah's name (الله) giving it a total value of 66.
Ha represents the breath (h-sound)—the first sound of existence. When Allah breathed life into Adam, it was symbolized by this breath sound. Ha is connected to Huwa (He/Him), Hayy (Living), and Hidayat (guidance)—all beginning with the breath of Ha.
Ha represents breath, life, existence, and divine presence. It appears twice in Allah (الله), symbolizing the inhale and exhale of existence. Ha is the gateway to Hidayat (guidance) and connects to the five senses through which we experience Allah's creation.
Five represents the foundation of Islamic practice: Five Pillars of Islam (Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj), five daily prayers (Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha), and five senses through which we receive divine guidance. The number 5 structures Muslim life around worship.
Ha (ه) appears twice in Allah's name: الله (Alif-Lam-Lam-Ha). The calculation is: 1+30+30+5 = 66. The two Ha letters symbolize the dual nature of breath—inhale and exhale—representing the giving and sustaining of life.
The Five Pillars are: 1) Shahada (declaration of faith), 2) Salah (five daily prayers), 3) Zakat (charitable giving), 4) Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), 5) Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). These five foundations structure all of Muslim life and worship.
Many crucial Islamic words begin with Ha: Hidayat (هداية) = guidance, Huwa (هو) = He/Him (Allah), Hayy (الحيّ) = The Living (Allah's name), Hamd (حمد) = praise, Haqq (حق) = truth. All connect to breath, life, and divine presence.
The five daily prayers (Salah) are: Fajr (dawn), Zuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). Interestingly, the numerical values of these prayer names add up to multiples relating to 5, showing the connection to Ha.
Key Takeaways: What You Need to Remember
- Ha is the fifth Arabic letter with Abjad value of 5 (breath, life, practice)
- Ha appears twice in Allah (الله) = 1+30+30+5 = 66
- The two Ha letters symbolize inhale/exhale—divine breath giving and sustaining life
- Five Pillars of Islam structure Muslim life (Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj)
- Five daily prayers connect Muslims to Allah throughout the day
- Five senses are channels through which we receive divine guidance
- Hidayat (guidance) begins with Ha—breath of divine teaching
- Huwa (He/Him) begins with Ha—the pronoun of divine presence
- Hayy (Living) begins with Ha—Allah as the Ever-Living source of life
Final Thoughts
The letter Ha may look simple—just a small curved shape with two dots. But within that form lies the breath of all existence.
From Alif (1) we learned about divine unity. From Ba (2) we learned about creation's response. From Jim (3) we learned about community. From Dal (4) we learned about foundation. Now from Ha (5), we learn that life itself is a divine breath, and through structured practice, we return that breath in worship.
Every time you take a breath, remember Ha. Every time you pray one of the five daily prayers, remember Ha. Every time you practice one of the five pillars, remember Ha. Life is the breath Allah gave you—use it to breathe His praise.
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 life filled with His remembrance, guide us through the five pillars, and accept our five daily prayers. Only Allah knows best.