The Letter Lam (ل): Tongue, Truth & The Power of Thirty
By Shakeel Muzaffar | Last Updated: January 9, 2026
Lam (ل) has an Abjad value of 30. It represents the tongue (Lisan)—the organ of speech, communication, and Quranic recitation. Lam appears twice in Allah's name (الله), creating the value 66 (1+30+30+5). Lam-Alif (لا) is the ONLY MANDATORY ligature in Arabic. The number 30 connects to lunar months (29-30 days), symbolizing divine communication through time and speech.
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate
Lam (ل) is unlike any other letter in the Arabic alphabet. It has the unique distinction of forming the ONLY MANDATORY ligature when it meets Alif—creating لا. But more profoundly, Lam represents Lisan (لسان), the tongue itself—the very organ through which the Quran is recited, truth is spoken, and divine names are proclaimed.
In the Abjad system, Lam has the value 30, connecting it to the 30 days of lunar months that structure Islamic time. Most significantly, Lam appears twice in Allah (الله), creating the heart of the divine name: 1 + 30 + 30 + 5 = 66.
What Is the Arabic Letter Lam (ل)?
Lam is positioned as the 12th letter in the traditional Abjad order (giving it the value 30), though it's the 23rd letter in the modern Arabic alphabet arrangement. Its sound is the English "L": ل
- Position: 12th letter in Abjad order (value 30), 23rd in modern alphabet
- Origin: From Phoenician/Hebrew "Lamed" meaning "ox-goad" (teaching stick)
- Pronunciation: Light "L" sound, like English "light"
- Abjad Value: 30
- Meaning: Tongue, teaching, learning, communication
- Spiritual Symbol: Lisan (tongue), truth, divine speech
- In Allah's Name: Appears TWICE in الله (1+30+30+5=66)
- Special Feature: Forms ONLY MANDATORY ligature with Alif (لا)
- Articulation: Pronounced with tip of tongue touching upper gums
- Definite Article: Forms "Al" (ال) meaning "the"
The name Lamed in ancient Hebrew meant "ox-goad" or "teaching stick"—a tool used to guide and direct. This perfectly captures Lam's spiritual function: the tongue that teaches, guides, and communicates divine truth (Islamic mysticism source).
👅 Lam: The Tongue of Truth
Lisan (لسان) = Tongue
The letter Lam begins the word "Lisan" (tongue) and is articulated with the tongue—the tip touching the upper gums behind the teeth. The tongue recites the Quran, speaks truth, and pronounces the name of Allah.
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What Is Lam in Abjad Numerology?
In the Abjad system (also called Hisab al-Jummal in Arabic: حِسَاب ٱلْجُمَّل, or Ilm-ul-Adad), Lam has the numerical value 30. This places it at a special tier—the first letter in the "tens" category, following the completion of units 1-10 (detailed linguistic source).
This symbolizes completion of cycles, the lunar month (29-30 days), communication perfected through speech, and the tongue that praises Allah. Thirty represents the fullness of time and the perfect expression of truth through language.
The Twice-Repeated Lam in Allah's Name
The most profound appearance of Lam is in Allah's name (الله), where it appears TWICE:
الله
Alif (1) + Lam (30) + Lam (30) + Ha (5) = 66
The double Lam in Allah's name is written as a special ligature, symbolizing:
- Double praise through speech – The tongue praises Allah twice
- Communication perfected – Speaking and listening combined
- Teaching and learning – The dual nature of divine communication
- 60 (30+30) – Representing complete cycles (12 months × 5 prayers)
What Is the Lam-Alif Ligature?
The ONLY Mandatory Ligature in Arabic
When Lam (ل) meets Alif (ا), they MUST combine to form the ligature لا. This is the ONLY compulsory ligature in the entire Arabic writing system—all other ligatures are optional (Wikipedia source).
🔗 The Mandatory Lam-Alif Ligature
Lam + Alif MUST form لا. This combination appears in countless Arabic words and represents the union of tongue (Lam) with oneness (Alif).
The Lam-Alif ligature appears in words like:
- لا (La) – "No" or negation
- الله (Allah) – God's name contains Lam-Alif ligature components
- ولا (Wa-la) – "And not"
- إلا (Illa) – "Except"
Why Is This Ligature Mandatory?
Scholars explain that separating Lam and Alif (writing ل ا instead of لا) is considered "difficult to read" and breaks the visual flow of Arabic script. The ligature represents inseparable connection—just as the tongue cannot be separated from speech, Lam cannot be separated from Alif when they meet.
Why Does Lam Equal 30?
The Lunar Cycle and Islamic Calendar
The number 30 connects directly to the Islamic lunar calendar. Each lunar month alternates between 29 and 30 days, based on the sighting of the new crescent moon (detailed source).
A complete lunar cycle takes approximately 29.5 days. Therefore, Islamic months alternate:
- Month 1: 30 days
- Month 2: 29 days
- Month 3: 30 days
- And so on...
The 12 lunar months of the Islamic calendar total 354-355 days—about 10-11 days shorter than the solar year. This means:
- Ramadan shifts ~11 days earlier each solar year
- Islamic months rotate through all seasons
- Every 33 solar years = 34 lunar years
Alif-Lam: The Muqatta'at Mirror (13 & 31)
In the Quran, the letters Alif-Lam (AL) appear as Muqatta'at (mysterious opening letters) 13 times. The numerical value of these letters is:
Alif (ا) + Lam (ل) = 1 + 30 = 31
Notice the mirror: AL appears 13 times, and its value is 31. The numbers 13 and 31 are mirror images! Even more remarkably, AL appears as Muqatta'at in:
- Surah 13 (Ar-Ra'd) – The Thunder
- Surah 31 (Luqman) – Luqman the Wise
This mathematical harmony points to the divine design embedded in the Quran's structure.
The Letters Leading to Lam
| Letter | Value | Symbolism | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ا | 1 | Divine Unity | Allah alone, the One |
| ي | 10 | Divine Hand | Completion of units, power, action |
| ك | 20 | Palm/Grasp | Holding, grasping, the word "Kun" (Be!) |
| ل | 30 | Tongue & Communication | Speech, truth, teaching, the lunar cycle |
➜ From Unity (1) → Divine hand (10) → Grasp (20) → Speech & Communication (30)
The concept of "thirty" as teaching and communication appears across ancient alphabetic numeral systems:
- Arabic Abjad: Lam (ل) = 30 → Tongue, teaching, communication
- Hebrew Gematria: Lamed (ל) = 30 → Ox-goad (teaching stick), learning
- Greek Isopsephy: Lambda (Λ) = 30 → Learning, instruction
- Phoenician: Lamed = 30 → Teaching, guiding stick
Across all traditions, the letter valued at 30 represents teaching, learning, and the transmission of divine knowledge through speech.
Common Questions About Lam
In the Abjad numerology system, Lam has a numerical value of 30. This represents the tongue (Lisan), the 30 days of lunar months, and appears twice in Allah's name (الله = 1+30+30+5 = 66). The number 30 symbolizes communication, truth, and the perfection of speech.
Lam is called "the tongue" because the Arabic word Lisan (لسان) meaning "tongue" begins with Lam, and Lam is articulated with the tip of the tongue touching the upper gums. The tongue is the organ of speech, communication, and reciting the Quran.
Lam-Alif (لا) is the ONLY MANDATORY ligature in the Arabic alphabet. When Lam (ل) comes before Alif (ا), they must join together to form لا. This ligature is compulsory in all Arabic fonts and word processing. It represents the combination of tongue (Lam) and unity (Alif).
Lam appears TWICE in Allah's name: الله = Alif (1) + Lam (30) + Lam (30) + Ha (5) = 66. The double Lam represents the perfect praise and communication with the Divine. The word Allah itself is written as a special ligature combining all four letters.
Lunar months alternate between 29 and 30 days based on the moon's cycle (29.5 days average). The Hijri/Islamic calendar uses 12 lunar months of either 29 or 30 days, totaling 354-355 days per year. This connects to Lam's value of 30, representing the completion of a lunar cycle.
The definite article in Arabic is "Al" (ال), formed by combining Alif (ا) + Lam (ل). It means "the" in English. For example: "kitab" (book) becomes "al-kitab" (the book). This combination appears constantly in Arabic, making Lam one of the most frequently used letters.
Alif-Lam (AL) appears as Muqatta'at letters 13 times in the Quran, and their combined value is 31 (1+30). These numbers are mirror images! AL appears in Surah 13 (Ar-Ra'd) and Surah 31 (Luqman), demonstrating the mathematical harmony embedded in the Quran's structure.
Lam is pronounced as a light "L" sound (like the L in "light"), produced by touching the tip of the tongue to the upper gums just behind the front teeth. In some contexts, like in "Allah," the Lam is pronounced as a heavy/dark L, similar to the L in "full."
Key Takeaways: What You Need to Remember
- Lam (ل) has Abjad value of 30 (tongue, communication, teaching)
- Lam represents Lisan (لسان) – the tongue, organ of speech and Quranic recitation
- Lam-Alif (لا) is the ONLY MANDATORY ligature in Arabic
- Lam appears TWICE in Allah's name: الله = 1+30+30+5 = 66
- 30 represents lunar months (29-30 days) in the Islamic calendar
- Alif-Lam (AL) appears 13 times as Muqatta'at, value = 31 (mirror numbers)
- Lam forms the definite article "Al" (ال) meaning "the"
- Articulated with tip of tongue touching upper gums
- Name derives from "Lamed" = ox-goad/teaching stick
- Represents divine communication perfected through human speech
Final Thoughts
The letter Lam may seem simple—just a vertical line with a hook. But within that form lies the essence of all communication.
From Alif we learned divine unity. From Ya we learned divine power. From Kaf we learned divine command. Now from Lam, we learn that the tongue is the bridge between the divine and human. Through the tongue we recite the Quran, we say "Alhamdulillah," we proclaim "La ilaha illallah"—and in every utterance, Lam is present.
When you say Allah (الله), feel the double Lam—your tongue touching your palate twice, creating the sacred name that contains within it the value 66: divine perfection expressed through human speech.
ل ل
The double Lam in Allah's name (الله)
30 + 30 = 60, within the value 66
Praise spoken and praise heard—communication perfected
May Allah purify our tongues to speak only truth, guide our speech to benefit others, and grant us the ability to recite His words with beauty and sincerity. Alhamdulillah for the gift of speech. Only Allah knows best.