In defining Ilm-ul-Huruf, revered spiritual guides, esteemed scholars, and accomplished masters have stated that these twenty-eight letters belong to the Name of the Almighty. The angels glorify Allah, the Exalted, using these names. It is said that when Allah, the Most High, commanded the Pen (قلم) to write everything that would occur until the Day of Judgment, the Pen placed its tip upon the Divine Tablet (Loh-e-Mahfooz), producing a luminous dot. That dot then elongated and became the letter Alif (ا). This is the mystery behind its radiant nature. The name “Allah” also begins with this very letter Alif.
According to scholars, alongside other branches of knowledge, Ilm-ul-Huruf was also taught to Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). The great spiritual elders have stated that the letters of the alphabet were first revealed in the Holy Quran in the form of disjointed letters (Huruf-e-Muqatta’at), entirely distinct from other words.
The Disjointed Letters (Huruf-e-Muqatta’at) are the Alphabetic Letters Themselves, and This is What Makes Them Highly Significant and Revered. It should be understood that letters are the leaders of words, and they have their own ranks and levels, which are designated for humans, jinn, plants, and inanimate objects. Each letter has a specific numerical value, which is well known through the Abjad system.
Just as there are spiritual ranks in mysticism, letters also have their own Qutb (pole), Imam (leader), Awtad (pillars), and Abdaal (substitutes). For instance, Alif (ا) is considered the Qutb (central axis) of letters, while Waw (و) and Ya (ی) are regarded as two Imams.
Experts in spiritual sciences have also described that each letter possesses a unique color, effect, and a special energy. It is said that when the people of knowledge wrote the letters and observed them with spiritual insight, they saw that the letter Alif (ا) appeared red, while the letter Ba (ب) appeared blue. They then analyzed their effects, discovering that certain words, when recited, could cure illnesses, while others could be used to neutralize the sting of a scorpion.
The divinely revealed words and the Names of Allah (Asma-e-Ilahi) possess such immense power that their recitation (Wird) can remove worries and ailments. This power of words originates from the essence of the letters themselves.
Hazrat Sultan Bahu (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), in many of his books, has depicted the letters of the alphabet in the form of symbols and circles. The secrets and mysteries of the alphabetic letters have been extensively discussed by early scholars and philosophers in their respective writings.
Very few people have awareness of Ilm-ul-Huruf, and hardly anyone has attempted to research it in depth. Even if some material on this subject is found, it often leaves a sense of incompleteness. Spiritual scholars have discussed this knowledge, and learned individuals have also documented its practices. However, not much effort has been made to further explore this field, despite it being a fundamental and highly influential branch of knowledge.
Generally, written materials on spiritual practices and occult sciences have been limited to various forms of talismans (Tilsmaat) or the use of Quranic verses in the form of symbolic inscriptions for specific purposes. It is the way of the world that when curiosity is instilled in something, people become deeply engaged in the struggle to attain it. However, they rarely focus on following the fundamental and straightforward approach to achieving it.
Ilm-ul-Huruf possesses such immense power that even complex spiritual practices (Amaal) seem simple in comparison. For the treatment of various diseases, only ten specific letters are commonly used as “Huroof-e-Shifa” (Letters of Healing). These letters are also known as “Huroof-e-Daf’e Illat” (Letters that Remove Ailments), and they are:
ا، ب، ت، ث، ط، ظ، ف، ک، ل، ی
The numerical value (Abjad) of these letters is 1943.
Experts in letter sciences (Ilm-ul-Huruf) use these letters to create talismans (Tilsmaat)—a practice that continues to this day. The Arabic letters, in the forms they appear and the sounds they produce, are a divine gift from the Creator of the Universe.
It is said that the sounds of letters were first reflected upon the sacred heart of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and later became prevalent among his descendants in various phonetic forms.
Scholars affirm that saints (Awliya) and great religious figures throughout history have strived to attain the spiritual blessings of letters and have played a significant role in relieving the difficulties of mankind.
The twenty-eight letters of the alphabet serve as a powerful tool for inner revelation (Kashf-e-Batin) and achieving one’s objectives. It would not be an exaggeration to call them “the keys to the treasures of divine power”.
Through the science of letters, it is possible to:
- Diagnose and treat illnesses
- Influence people (Taskheer-e-Khalq, Taskheer-e-Mahboob & Matloob)
- Repel enemies (Daf’e Dushman)
Additionally, spiritual practices based on letters, such as amulets (Taweezat), inscriptions (Naqoosh & Alwah), and talismans (Tilsmaat), are known to be highly effective, offering precise and powerful results.
In today’s digital era, we have become part of a fast-paced society, where we constantly hear about new sciences, intuitive practices, and healing modalities. Many of these reflect the influence of Western culture and often include elements that border on shirk (associating partners with Allah). Perhaps this is one reason why, despite modern advancements, people continue to struggle with various difficulties. Whether due to our lack of understanding, laziness, or the diseases of the soul, we fail to seek healing and solutions through Quranic practices and supplications (Wazaif).