| (From the four letters of the Arabic alphabet 'A', 'B', 'J' and 'D') The ancient
Arabic system of allocating a numerical value to letters of the alphabet, so that numbers
may be represented by letters, and not to be confused with numerology (the study of
the occult meaning of numbers). Shoghi
Effendi explained in a letter written on his behalf: 'In the Semitic languages
- both Arabic and Hebrew - every letter of the alphabet had a numerical value, so instead
of using figures to denote numbers they used letters and compounds of letters. Thus
every word had both a literal meaning and also a numerical value. This practice is
no more in use but during the time of Bahá'u'lláh and the Báb it was quite
in vogue among the educated classes, and we find it very much used in the Bayán.
As the word Bahá also
stood for the number nine it could be used interchangeably with it.'6 The letters and their valuse are: |
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| Abjad Chart |
[  ] [BD 5-6] |
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| TOP |
| "The name of the arithmetical arrangement of the alphabet, the letters of which
have different powers [numerical values] from one to one thousand. It is in the order
of the alphabet as used by the Jews as far as 400, the six remaining letters being
added by the Arabians." (Hughes). |
| [BG 5] |
|
| The ancient Arabic system of allocating a numerical value to letters of the alphabet,
so that numbers may be represented by letters and vice versa. Thus every word has both
a literal meaning and a numerical value. |
| [KA-G 252] |
|
