Shaykh Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-Ṣaduq · The Explanation of the Letters of the Alphabet According to Their Numerical Value
Shia · narrations
Reports differ in authenticity, attribution, context and interpretation across scholarly traditions. Inclusion here is not authentication or endorsement.
Hadith reports may differ in authenticity, attribution, context, and interpretation across Islamic scholarly traditions. Inclusion in this library does not constitute authentication or endorsement. Readers are encouraged to consult qualified scholars before drawing religious or legal conclusions.
1 - حدثنا محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد الهمداني مولى بني هاشم، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن عبد الله بن جعفر بن عبد الله بن جعفر بن محمد بن علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام، قال: حدثنا كثير بن عياش القطان، عن أبي الجارود زياد بن المنذر، عن أبي جعفر محمد بن علي الباقر عليهم السلام، قال: لما ولد عيسى بن مريم عليه السلام كان ابن يوم كأنه ابن شهرين، فلما كان ابن سبعة أشهر أخذت والدته بيده وجاءت به إلى الكتاب وأقعدته بين يدي المؤدب فقال له المؤدب: قل بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، فقال عيسى عليه السلام: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، فقال له المؤدب: قل: أبجد، فرفع عيسى عليه السلام رأسه فقال: هل تدري ما أبجد؟ فعلاه بالدرة ليضربه، فقال: يا مؤدب لا تضربني، إن كنت تدري وإلا فاسألني حتى أفسر لك، قال: فسره لي، فقال عيسى عليه السلام: الألف آلاء الله، والباء بهجة الله، والجيم جمال الله، والدال دين الله. (هوز) الهاء هول جهنم، والواو ويل لأهل النار، والزاي زفير جنهم. (حطي) حطت الخطايا عن المستغفرين. (كلمن) كلام الله لا مبدل لكلماته. (سعفص) صاع بصاع والجزاء بالجزاء. (قرشت) قرشهم فحشرهم، فقال المؤدب: أيتها المرأة خذي بيد ابنك فقد علم ولا حاجة له في المؤدب.
1. Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Hamdani, the freed slave of the Hashimites, said: Ja`far ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn Abu Talib said: Kathir ibn `Ayyash al-Qittan said, on the authority of Abu al-Jarud Ziyad ibn al-Mundhir that Abu Ja`far Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn al-Baqir (AS) said: When Jesus son of Mary [`Isa ibn Maryam] (AS) was born, he was a day old; however, he looked to be two months old. When he turned seven months old, his mother took him to the teachers of script. She placed him before the teacher, so the teacher said to him: “Say: In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.” Thus, `Isa (AS) said: “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.” Then the teacher said to him: “Say: Abjad (the alphabet).” So `Isa (AS) lifted his head and asked, “Do you know what abjad is?” Hence, the teacher picked up a lash to hit him. Therefore, `Isa (AS) responded, “O teacher, do not hit me. If you do not know the maning, ask me, and I shall it explain it to you.” Thus, the teacher replied, “Explain it to me.” `Isa (AS) explained: The letter [alif] “a” stands for Allah’s Blessings; the letter [ba] “b” stands for Allah’s Joy; the letter [jim] “j” stands for Allah’s Exaltation; the letter [dal] “d” stands for Allah’s Religion. In hawwaz, the letter [ha] “h” stands for the terror of Hell; the letter [wa’u] “w” stands for the affliction for the ones in the Fire; and the letter [za`i] “z” stands for the moaning of Hell. Hutti is for diminishing the mistakes from the seekers of forgiveness. Kaliman is the Word of Allah, there is none that can alter His words. Sa`fas is tit for tat and recompense for recompense. Qarashat is that He assembles them then resurrects them. The teacher then said: “Lady! Take you son away. He is already learned, and is not in need of a teacher.”
Translation: Sayed Ali Raza Rizvi — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.
Narrator names are reproduced from the edition. Biographical profiles (Rijal al-Najashi, Rijal al-Tusi, Muʿjam Rijal al-Hadith) are not yet ingested, so SacredTwo does not link a narrator to a profile it cannot show.
This edition publishes no authenticity assessment for this narration. SacredTwo does not assign one.
What is and is not verified on this page
Persian rendering (AI)
No published Persian translation of this edition is available. This rendering is produced by SacredTwo's model and is not a published translation.
AI-assisted translation — not a verified published translation.