The Letter Ayn (ع): Eye, Spring & The Root of All Knowledge
By Shakeel Muzaffar | Last Updated: January 10, 2026
Ayn (ع) has an Abjad value of 70. It means Eye (عين 'ayn)—the organ of sight and perception, AND Spring/Fountain (عين 'ayn)—the source of water and life. Ayn forms the root ع-ل-م ('Ayn-Lam-Meem) = 'Ilm (علم = Knowledge), appearing 854+ times in the Quran. It's the deepest letter pronounced from the throat, representing "the essential sound, the voice, and representation of the self." The number 70 symbolizes complete perception, full understanding, and the flowing forth of wisdom like water from a spring.
ع
The Eye that sees,
The Spring that flows,
The Knowledge that illuminates
The first word revealed from heaven to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) wasn't "pray" or "believe" or "obey."
It was اقْرَأْ (Iqra!) — "READ!"
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ
"Read! In the name of your Lord who created."
And at the heart of this command to read, learn, know—there's a single letter that makes it all possible:
ع
Ayn
Ayn (ع) is the 16th letter in the Abjad order, with the numerical value 70. But it's not just another letter. It's the foundation of perception itself.
Ayn means Eye (عين)—the organ that sees reality.
Ayn means Spring (عين)—the source from which life flows.
Ayn forms the root ع-ل-م ('Ayn-Lam-Meem)—which gives us علم ('Ilm = Knowledge).
This root appears over 854 times in the Quran in various forms: 'alima (to know), 'allama (to teach), 'ilm (knowledge), 'alim (knower), Al-'Alim (The All-Knowing—one of Allah's 99 Names).
When al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi wrote the first Arabic dictionary, he didn't start with Alif like everyone expected. He started with Ayn. Why? Because Ayn is pronounced from the deepest part of the throat—the "essential sound, the voice, the representation of the self".
Ayn is where knowledge begins: with seeing, with perceiving, with understanding. Let's dive into the depths (linguistic source).
What Is the Arabic Letter Ayn (ع)?
Ayn is the 16th letter in the traditional Abjad order (giving it the value 70), though it's the 18th letter in the modern alphabet arrangement. Its sound is a voiced pharyngeal fricative (/ʕ/)—produced deep in the throat, from the pharynx.
- Position: 16th letter in Abjad order (value 70), 18th in modern alphabet
- Origin: Phoenician 'ayin (𐤏) = "eye"
- Pronunciation: Voiced pharyngeal fricative /ʕ/ (deep throat sound)
- Abjad Value: 70
- Dual Meaning: Eye (عين) AND Spring/fountain (عين)
- Knowledge Root: ع-ل-م ('Ayn-Lam-Meem) = 'Ilm (knowledge)
- Appears: 854+ times in Quran in various forms
- The Deepest Letter: From innermost part of throat
- First Dictionary: Kitab al-'Ayn started with this letter
- Origin of O: Greek/Latin letter O evolved from Phoenician 'ayin
Most Western learners find Ayn impossible to pronounce. It doesn't exist in English, French, Spanish, German—any European language. It's a guttural sound squeezed from the back of the throat while voicing. Think of gargling without water. That's Ayn.
👁️ Ayn: The Letter of Seeing & Flowing
عين ('Ayn) = Eye + Spring
The same Arabic word means BOTH: (1) Eye—the organ of sight, perception, witness; (2) Spring/Fountain—source of water, life-giving flow. Both are sources: the eye is the source of seeing, the spring is the source of water. Both provide sustenance—one for knowledge, one for physical life.
🧮 Interactive Abjad Calculator
Type any Arabic letter or word to see its Abjad value instantly
What Is Ayn in Abjad Numerology?
In the Abjad system (also called Hisab al-Jummal in Arabic: حِسَاب ٱلْجُمَّل), Ayn has the numerical value 70. This number represents complete cycles of perception, full understanding, deep wisdom.
This symbolizes complete perception through both physical and spiritual sight. Seventy represents fullness in wisdom cycles, deep knowledge that flows like water from a spring, and the ability to see truth beyond surface appearances. It's the number of complete understanding—when the eye sees clearly and the mind comprehends fully.
The Dual Meaning: Eye AND Spring
The Arabic word عين ('ayn) has two primary meanings that seem unrelated at first—but both connect to the concept of source:
| Meaning | Arabic | Symbolism | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye | عين | Sight, perception, witness | Source of seeing → Knowledge |
| Spring/Fountain | عين | Water source, life-giver | Source of water → Physical life |
Both meanings share the same concept: SOURCE. The eye is the source of perception. The spring is the source of water. Both are openings from which something essential flows.
The Root of All Knowledge: ع-ل-م
The three-letter root ع-ل-م ('Ayn-Lam-Meem) forms the Arabic word علم ('Ilm), meaning KNOWLEDGE.
This root appears over 854 times in the Quran in various forms. That's not a coincidence—it's the most emphasized concept in Islam after Allah Himself.
📚 Words from the Root ع-ل-م
Etymology breakdown: Seeing (Ayn) + For (Lam) + Being (Meem) = Knowledge. You see something (ع), for (ل) you to become/be (م) better, more knowledgeable, more experienced. Knowledge is perception leading to transformation.
The First Word: Iqra! (Read!)
When Angel Jibril (Gabriel) descended to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in the Cave of Hira, the very first word revealed was:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ
الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ
عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
"Read! In the name of your Lord who created—
Created man from a clinging clot.
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous—
Who taught by the Pen—
Taught man what he did not know."
Notice the words: عَلَّمَ ('allama) = taught (appears TWICE). Both come from the root ع-ل-م. The very first revelation establishes that Islam is the religion of knowledge.
Not blind faith. Not ignorance. KNOWLEDGE. Seeing. Understanding. Learning. Teaching.
Why Ayn Is Called "The Deepest Letter"
Kitab al-'Ayn: The First Arabic Dictionary
In the 8th century, al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi wrote the first Arabic dictionary ever compiled. Instead of starting with Alif (ا) as you'd expect, he started with Ayn (ع).
Why? Because Ayn is pronounced from the deepest part of the throat—the pharynx. Al-Khalil viewed its origins deep in the throat as a sign that it was "the first sound, the essential sound, the voice, and a representation of the self".
This isn't just linguistics—it's philosophy. The letter that represents seeing and knowledge comes from the deepest place within us. Real knowledge isn't superficial. It comes from depth.
'Ayn al-Yaqin: The Eye of Certainty
The Quran mentions three levels of certainty:
- 'Ilm al-Yaqin (عِلْمُ الْيَقِينِ) = Knowledge of Certainty—knowing through reason and evidence
- 'Ayn al-Yaqin (عَيْنُ الْيَقِينِ) = Eye of Certainty—seeing/witnessing truth directly
- Haqq al-Yaqin (حَقُّ الْيَقِينِ) = Truth of Certainty—experiencing reality itself
ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّهَا عَيْنَ الْيَقِينِ
"Then you will surely see it with the Eye of Certainty."
'Ayn al-Yaqin isn't just physical sight—it's spiritual perception. It's the ability to witness divine reality with the eye of the heart. Knowledge (ع-ل-م) begins with seeing (عين), and the highest seeing is 'Ayn al-Yaqin—direct vision of truth.
The Significance of Seventy
Why 70? Throughout Islamic tradition, seventy appears as a number of completion and fullness:
- 70 years of worship — Prophet Muhammad said: "Contemplating deeply for one hour (with sincerity) is better than 70 years of (mechanical) worship"
- 70 branches of faith — According to hadith, Iman (faith) has 70+ branches
- 70 nations — Symbolic of all humanity in some interpretations
- 70 elders of Israel — Moses chose 70 men (Quran 7:155)
Seventy represents fullness of perception, complete cycles of understanding, wisdom that has reached maturity. It's knowledge (ع-ل-م) that has fully developed through time and experience.
- Arabic Abjad: Ayn (ع) = 70 → Eye, spring, knowledge root
- Hebrew Gematria: Ayin (ע) = 70 → Eye
- Phoenician: 'Ayin (𐤏) = Original "eye" symbol
- Greek Evolution: Omicron (Ο) developed from Phoenician 'ayin
- Latin O: Direct descendant of Greek omicron from 'ayin
- Symbolic Connection: The eye (○) → The circle → The letter O
The Phoenician symbol for "eye" eventually evolved into the circular shape of the letter O in Western alphabets—a visual representation of the eye itself.
Common Questions About Ayn
In the Abjad numerology system, Ayn has a numerical value of 70. It represents the eye (عين 'ayn), spring/fountain (عين 'ayn), and forms the root of 'Ilm (علم = knowledge). The number 70 symbolizes complete perception, full cycles of wisdom, and deep understanding that flows like water from a spring.
The word 'Ayn (عين) has two primary meanings: (1) Eye—the organ of sight, perception, witness; (2) Spring/fountain—source of water, life-giving flow. Both meanings connect to SOURCE: the eye is the source of seeing, the spring is the source of water. Both provide sustenance—one for knowledge, one for physical life. Context determines which meaning applies.
The root ع-ل-م ('Ayn-Lam-Meem) forms the word 'Ilm (علم) meaning KNOWLEDGE. This root appears over 854 times in the Quran in various forms: 'alima (to know), 'allama (to teach), 'ilm (knowledge), 'alim (knower), Al-'Alim (The All-Knowing—99 Names of Allah). The first word revealed to Prophet Muhammad was اقْرَأْ (Iqra! = Read!)—establishing knowledge as Islam's foundation. Etymologically: Seeing (Ayn) + For (Lam) + Being (Meem) = Knowledge through perception.
Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi, who wrote the first Arabic dictionary (Kitab al-'Ayn), started with Ayn as the FIRST letter instead of following alphabetical order. Why? Because Ayn is pronounced from the deepest part of the throat (voiced pharyngeal fricative). He viewed its origins deep in the throat as a sign that it was "the first sound, the essential sound, the voice and a representation of the self." It's the innermost expression of human sound—the foundation of all speech.
'Ayn al-Yaqin (عَيْنُ الْيَقِينِ) means "The Eye of Certainty"—spiritual sight, visionary perception, seeing truth beyond physical eyes. The Quran mentions three levels of certainty: (1) 'Ilm al-Yaqin (knowledge of certainty)—knowing through reason; (2) 'Ayn al-Yaqin (eye of certainty)—seeing/witnessing truth directly (Quran 102:7); (3) Haqq al-Yaqin (truth of certainty)—experiencing reality itself. 'Ayn al-Yaqin is spiritual vision—the ability to perceive divine reality with the eye of the heart.
Ayn is a voiced pharyngeal fricative (/ʕ/)—a deep throat sound that doesn't exist in most Western languages. To produce it: (1) Imagine gargling water and tighten the muscles at the back of your throat; (2) Instead of gargling, squeeze those muscles while pushing air and voice through; (3) The result is a deep, rough sound from the pharynx. It's one of the most difficult sounds for non-Arabic speakers to master.
The very first word revealed to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was اقْرَأْ (Iqra!) meaning "Read!" This established that Islam is the religion of knowledge, not blind faith or ignorance. The revelation continued: "Read! In the name of your Lord who created... Who taught by the Pen—Taught man what he did not know" (Quran 96:1-5). The word عَلَّمَ ('allama = taught) appears TWICE in this first revelation—both from the root ع-ل-م. Islam begins with reading, learning, understanding, and teaching.
The Phoenician letter 'Ayin (𐤏) meant "eye" and had a circular or eye-like shape. When the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet, they transformed 'Ayin into Omicron (Ο)—a circle representing the eye. The Romans then adopted Greek Omicron as the letter O. So the English letter O is a direct descendant of the Phoenician/Hebrew/Arabic Ayn—a visual representation of the eye (○) that evolved into a simple circle.
Key Takeaways: What You Need to Remember
- Ayn (ع) has Abjad value of 70 (eye, spring, knowledge)
- Dual meaning: Eye (عين) AND Spring/fountain (عين)
- Forms root ع-ل-م = 'Ilm (علم = knowledge)
- Root appears 854+ times in Quran in various forms
- First word revealed was Iqra! (اقْرَأْ = Read!)
- Pronounced from deepest part of throat (pharyngeal fricative)
- Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad started first Arabic dictionary with Ayn
- Called "the essential sound, voice, representation of self"
- 'Ayn al-Yaqin (عَيْنُ الْيَقِينِ) = Eye of Certainty (spiritual sight)
- Three certainties: 'Ilm (knowledge), 'Ayn (seeing), Haqq (truth)
- 70 = Complete perception, full wisdom cycles
- Origin of Greek O and Latin O letters
Final Thoughts
There's a reason the first word revealed wasn't "pray" or "believe" or "obey."
It was "READ."
Because Islam begins with knowledge. With seeing. With understanding. And at the center of all knowledge is a single letter pronounced from the deepest part of the human throat:
ع
Ayn—the eye that sees, the spring that flows, the knowledge that illuminates. It's the letter you can barely pronounce, but it's the foundation of everything you know.
When you see with your eyes, you're using 'ayn.
When you drink from a spring, you're drinking 'ayn.
When you seek knowledge, you're pursuing 'ilm—which begins with 'ayn.
ع
The deepest sound from the throat,
The source of all seeing,
The spring from which knowledge flows.
Seventy complete cycles of perception—
The eye that finally understands.
May Allah grant us 'Ayn al-Yaqin—the Eye of Certainty—to see beyond surface appearances and perceive divine reality. May our knowledge ('ilm) flow like water from a spring, nourishing all who thirst for truth. Al-'Alim—The All-Knowing—knows best.