A Bahá'í Glossary - Number

Number - 40

In religion

The number 40 is found in many traditions without any universal explanation for its use. In Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and other Middle Eastern traditions it is taken to represent a large, approximate number, similar to "umpteen".

Sumerian

Enki ( /ˈɛŋki/) or Enkil (Sumerian: dEN.KI(G)𒂗𒆠) is a god in Sumerian mythology, later known as Ea in Akkadian and Babylonian mythology. He was originally patron god of the city of Eridu, but later the influence of his cult spread throughout Mesopotamia and to the Canaanites, Hittites and Hurrians. He was the deity of crafts (gašam); mischief; water, seawater, lake water (a, aba, ab), intelligence (gestú, literally "ear") and creation (Nudimmud: nu, likeness, dim mud, make bear). He was associated with the southern band of constellations called stars of Ea, but also with the constellation AŠ-IKU, the Field (Square of Pegasus). Beginning around the second millennium BCE, he was sometimes referred to in writing by the numeric ideogram for "40," occasionally referred to as his "sacred number."

A large number of myths about Enki have been collected from many sites, stretching from Southern Iraq to the Levantine coast. He figures in the earliest extant cuneiform inscriptions throughout the region and was prominent from the third millennium down to Hellenistic times.

The exact meaning of his name is uncertain: the common translation is "Lord of the Earth": the Sumerian en is translated as a title equivalent to "lord"; it was originally a title given to the High Priest; ki means "earth"; but there are theories that ki in this name has another origin, possibly kig of unknown meaning, or kur meaning "mound". The name Ea is allegedly Hurrian in origin while others claim that it is possibly of Semitic origin and may be a derivation from the West-Semitic root *hyy meaning "life" in this case used for "spring", "running water." In Sumerian E-A means "the house of water", and it has been suggested that this was originally the name for the shrine to the God at Eridu.

Judaism

In the Hebrew Bible, forty is often used for time periods, forty days or forty years, which separate "two distinct epochs".[8]
Rain fell for "forty days and forty nights" during the Flood (Genesis 7:4).
Noah waited for forty days after the tops of mountains were seen after the flood, before releasing a raven (Genesis 8:5-7).
Spies were sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan (promised to the children of Israel) for "forty days" (Numbers 13:2, 25).
The Hebrew people lived in the lands outside of the promised land for "forty years". This period of years represents the time it takes for a new generation to arise (Numbers 32:13).
Several early Hebrew leaders and kings are said to have ruled for "forty years", that is, a generation. Examples include Eli (1 Samuel 4:18), Saul (Acts 13:21), David (2 Samuel 5:4), and Solomon (1 Kings 11:42).
Goliath challenged the Israelites twice a day for forty days before David defeated him (1 Samuel 17:16).
Moses spent three consecutive periods of "forty days and forty nights" on Mount Sinai:
1. He went up on the seventh day of Sivan, after God gave the Torah to the Jewish people, in order to learn the Torah from God, and came down on the seventeenth day of Tammuz, when he saw the Jews worshiping the Golden Calf and broke the tablets (Deuteronomy 9:11).
2. He went up on the eighteenth day of Tammuz to beg forgiveness for the people's sin and came down without God's atonement on the twenty-ninth day of Av (Deuteronomy 9:25).
3. He went up on the first day of Elul and came down on the tenth day of Tishrei, the first Yom Kippur, with God's atonement (Deuteronomy 10:10).
A mikvah consists of 40 se'ah (approximately 200 U.S. gallons or 760 liters) of water
The prophet Elijah had to walk 40 days and 40 nights before arriving at mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).
40 lashes is one of the punishments meted out by the Sanhedrin (Deuteronomy 25:3), though in actual practice only 39 lashes were administered.
(Numbers 14:33–34) alludes to the same with ties to the prophecy in The Book of Daniel. "For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you."
One of the prerequisites for a man to study Kabbalah is that he is forty years old.
"The registering of these men was carried on cruelly, zealously, assiduously, from the rising of the sun to its going down, and was not brought to an end in forty days" (3 Maccabees 4:15).

Christianity

Christianity similarly uses forty to designate important time periods.

Before his temptation, Jesus fasted "forty days and forty nights" in the Judean desert (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2).
Forty days was the period from the resurrection of Jesus to the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:3).
According to Stephen, Moses' life is divided into three 40-year segments, separated by his growing to adulthood, fleeing from Egypt, and his return to lead his people out (Acts 7:23,30,36).
In modern Christian practice, Lent consists of the 40 days preceding Easter. In much of Western Christianity, Sundays are excluded from the count; in Eastern Christianity, Sundays are included.
The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Kirk Kilisse, "Forty Churches" (Σαράντα Εκκλησιές) in Eastern Thrace
Rain fell for "forty days and forty nights" during the Flood (Genesis 7:4).

Islam

Muḥammad was forty years old when he first received the revelation delivered by the archangel Gabriel.
Masih ad-Dajjal roams around the Earth in forty days, the first day length is like one year, the second day is like one month, the third day is like one week and the next day (until 40th day) is like one day.
God forbade the Israelites from entering the Holy Land for 40 years to separate them from Musa (Moses) and his brother.
Musa (Moses) spent 40 days on Mount Sinai where he received the 10 commandments.

Yazidism

In the Yazidi faith, The Chermera Temple (meaning "40 Men" in the Yazidi dialect) is so old that no one remembers how it came to have that name but it is believed to derive from the burial of 40 men on the mountaintop site.

Funerary customs

Some Russians and Serbs believe that ghosts of the dead linger at the site of their death for forty days. After the forty days, additional prayers are performed at the grave (parastos (парастос) or panihida (панихида)), to escort the soul on its way to God's court.
Many Christian Filipinos mark the end of the initial mourning period on the fortieth day after death, and have a Mass said. They believe that the soul remains on the earthly plane for forty days before entering the afterlife, recalling how Christ ascended to heaven forty days after his Resurrection.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, some popular religious prayers consist of forty shlokas or dohas (couplets, stanzas). The most common being the Hanuman Chalisa (chaalis is the Hindi term for 40).

In the Hindu system some of the popular fasting periods consist 40 days and is called the period One 'Mandala Kalam' Kalam means a period and Mandala Kalam means a period of 40 days. For example, the devotees of Swami Ayyappa, the name of a Hindu god very popular in Kerala, India (Sabarimala Swami Ayyappan) strictly observed forty days fasting and visit (only male devotees were permitted to enter into the god's temple until September 2018) with their holy submittance or offerings on 41st or a convenient day after a minimum 40 days practice of fasting. The offering is called "Kaanikka".

Sikhism

Anand Sahib, the fifth and the final of the daily Sikh prayers have 40 paragraphs, and the 40th paragraph is often read when concluding any Sikh ceremony.
Chali Mukte (40 liberated ones) refer to the 40 soldiers in the army of Guru Gobind Singh. These 40 disciples were the most favorite and beloved disciples of the Guru.

[ Wikipedia - 40 (number) ]

Bahá'í

The ministry of Bahá'u'lláh lasted about 40 years - from 1853 to 1892.

[ ABG ]

"I remember an occasion when 'Abdu'l-Bahá took me to see the 'Akká prison house where he and his father and the family had been confined for nearly 40 years, and how he spoke about the Lord's Prayer in these words: "Remember there is prophecy as well as petition in the great prayer which His Holiness the Christ gave to the world. The prophecies in the Lord's Prayer will be fulfilled, and perhaps more quickly than is realised; His kingdom shall come, His will shall be done on earth; daily bread shall be given to all; sins shall be forgiven and as each one turns to seek the kingdom that is within, so shall all good things be added to him."

(BW - Baha'i World Volumes, Volume 10, p. 199)

[ ]

The Guardian pointed out the fact that the Bahá'ís were the only religion in Israel that did not have to pay tax on property used for the Faith because we comply with the rules in contract of land ownership, namely: 1 - we will not sell. 2 - We do not build. 3 - We will not rent. 4 - We will not sell produce from the land. We now have property valued at four million dollars. We waited 40 years for the Mansion at Bahji, 50 years for the land on Mt. Carmel, 60 years for the Shrine and 100 years for the Siyah Chal.

(Dated Collection, 1954 May 2-10, Edith McLaren)

[ ]

Nothing more important could happen to man than reaching the age of 21. Something happens inside him, physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Maturity is reached at the age of 40, and that is due to the change that came over him at 21. What happens at 21 is more important than what happens at 40, or any other time of life, because what happens at 40 is determined by what happened at 21. That is why the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh is so important; that is why these that recognize it and turn to Him are alive and those who turn away are as dead!

(Dated Collection, 1954, Ruth Moffet, pp 4-29 of 52 (Highly Unreliable))

[ ]

Shoghi Effendi referred to the cable sent to America which appeared in the Bahá'í News where he likened the "Tree" to an "Olive Tree". He said the tree of 6000 years started with Adam, the last of Many Adams, it grew in Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muḥammad. The tree, like an olive tree, yielded its fruit in the Báb, in His martyrdom it was crushed by the mill of adversity. The oil from this crushed fruit made the light which appeared 10 years later in the Siyah-Chal. It ignited in a flicker in the darkest dungeon, it was cliuded over for 10 years and when it reached the land of mystery, Adrianople, it became more radiant, it became a crystal. For 40 years it only showed its light in ten countries. After that it spread to the west.

(See Chapter on Birth of the Bahá'í Revelation in "God Passes By"). (David's Collection, Marguerite Sears)

[ ]

The new race will be wholly devoted souls. This is the Age of the maturity of the human race - a spiritual emergency between man and God. There are three stages in the evolution of mankind. The first stage is that of infancy and childhood. The second stage is that of manhood, at the age of 21. The third is that of Maturity, at 40. Humanity has now reached the third stage. The human race is now 40, and has reached the age of Maturity and must perfect God's work.

(David's Collection, Ramona Brown Pilgrim Notes)

[ ]

A.B. When love obtains[A1460] a man can travel 100,000 miles without fatigue and enjoy it. Love renders the bitter sweet, love renders fatigue as rest. When man exercises the power of love he will become very joyful, he will obtain spiritual susceptibilities. The bounty of love is the greatest bestowal of God. [A1461]
T[A1462]here is nothing as extraordinary or supernatural [A1463]as my coming here to see you. A person in prison for life 40 years to come to S.F. and meet the friends, how impossible it seems,[A1464] God detroned two sovereigns, 2 kings he dethroned, so that I could come here. How difficult it seems. This is a miracle. This is the power of God. Every inconceivable thing

(Ella Cooper, Ella Cooper's Notes)

[ ]

St. John's Westminster: Introduction On September 17th, 'Abdu'l-Bahá at the request of the venerable Archdeacon of Westminster addressed the congregation of Saint John the Divine after evening service. With a few warm words characteristic of his whole attitude Archdeacon Wilberforce introduced the revered Messenger from the East, who had crossed seas and countries on his Mission of Peace and Unity for which he had suffered forty years of captivity and persecution. The Archdeacon had the Bishop's chair placed for his Guest on the Chancel steps, and standing beside him read the translation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's address himself. The Congregation was profoundly moved, and following the Archdeacon's example knelt to receive the blessing of the Servant of God -- who stood with extended arms -- his wonderful voice rising and falling in the silence with the power of his invocation. As the Archdeacon said: "Truly the East and the West have met in this sacred place tonight." The hymn "O God our help in ages past" was sung by the entire assembly standing, as 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Archdeacon passed down the aisle to the vestry hand in hand. Outside the Church, Salvationists were holding their meeting and 'Abdu'l-Bahá was deeply impressed and touched at the sight of the men, women and children gathered together in the night, at the street corner, praying and singing.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 20)

[ ]

I have been asked this question: In the Gospels one finds only spiritual directions, not particular directions for conduct as in the old testament. How is this? The teachings of Christ covered a period of three years; the dispensation of Moses lasted forty years. After Moses led the people of Israel from the land of bondage, he found it necessary to inaugurate certain physical rules to show them how to live. In the lifetime of Christ only a small group gathered around him. After his declaration, his mission lasted but three years; there was neither time nor occasion for a complete code of laws. The essential thing is the spiritual law - the outer material law is of small moment, because material life has natural laws to protect it, but humanity lacks spiritual education and needs instruction on the divine qualities. Christ gave this great foundation, as did Mohammed, the Báb and Baha'o'llah. They are all one. There is no difference in their teachings. When we come to kind actions and to striving for the highest ideals of humanity, these things remain the same in all ages, in all countries and in all tongues. The sun is always the sun. According to the position of the earth we receive its radiation differently.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 68)

[ ]

The Apostle of God -- may the blessings of God and His salutations be upon Him -- hath also said: "He that looketh upon the sea at eventide, and saith: 'God is Most Great!' at sunset, God will forgive his sins, though they be heaped as piles of sand. And he that counteth forty waves, while repeating: 'God is Most Great!' -- exalted be He -- God will forgive his sins, both past and future."

(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 178)

[ ]

681. Regarding Non-Bahá'í Traditions "In regard to your question concerning the truth of the statement that it takes three days to make complete severance from the body, the Guardian wishes me to inform you that there is no specific reference to this point in the Sacred Writings of the Cause. But as to the advisability of praying for the departed for forty days after their passing this is entirely an originally Moslem practice, and constitutes in no way an obligation on any believer. To pray for the dead is very beneficial and helpful and is always a source of comfort and satisfaction. But there is no reason why it should be confined to a period of forty days.

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 9, 1934)
(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 204)

[ ]

779. The Divine Wisdom in Fasting The Divine wisdom in fasting is manifold. Among them is this: As during those days (i.e. the period of fasting which the followers afterward observe) the Manifestation of the Sun of Reality, through Divine inspiration, is engaged in the descent (revealing) of Verses, the instituting of Divine Law and the arrangement of teachings, through excessive occupation and intensive attraction, there remains no condition or time for eating and drinking. For example, when His Holiness Moses went to Mount Tur (Sinai) and there engaged in instituting the Law of God, He fasted forty days. For the purpose of awakening and admonishing the people of Israel, fasting was enjoined upon them. Likewise, His Holiness Christ, in the beginning of instituting the Spiritual Law, the systemizing of the teachings and the arrangement of counsels, for forty days abstained from eating and drinking. In the beginning the disciples and Christians fasted. Later the assemblages of the chief Christians changed fasting into lenten observances. Likewise the koran having descended in the month of Ramadan, fasting during that month became a duty. In like manner His Holiness the Supreme (The Bab), in the beginning of the Manifestation through the excessive effect of descending verses, passed days in which His nourishment was reduced to tea only. Likewise, the Blessed Beauty (Bahá'u'lláh), when busy with instituting the Divine Teachings and during the days when the Verses (The Word of God) descended continuously, through the great effect of the Verses and the throbbing of the heart, took no food except the least amount. The purpose is this: In order to follow the Divine Manifestation and for the purpose of admonition and the commemoration of their state, it became incumbent upon the people to fast during those days. For every sincere soul who has a beloved longs to experience that state in which his beloved is. If his beloved is in a state of sorrow, he desires sorrow; if in a state of joy, he desires joy; if in a state of rest, he desires rest; if in a state of trouble, he desires trouble. Now, since in this Millennial Day, His Holiness the Supreme (The Bab) fasted many days, and the Blessed Beauty (Bahá'u'lláh) took but little food or drink, it becomes necessary that the friends should follow that example...

(Table talks by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, by Mrs. Corinne True: Star of the West, Vol. IV, no. 18. p.305)
(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 234)

[ ]

2064. The Auditorium May be Used For Special Prayers by Visiting Groups, Bahá'í or Non-Bahá'í "... provided the general rules governing the nature of services in the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar are observed, there is no objection to your Assembly permitting the use of the auditorium for special prayer meetings by visiting groups at times when no general service is scheduled, and such meetings could include memorial services for departed souls, whether Bahá'í or non-Bahá'í. However, in some religions it is customary to hold memorial services for the departed at a specific time after the death -- for example, in Islam it is forty days after the passing. The Guardian has stated that such practices have nothing to do with the Faith, the friends should be quite clear on this matters, and should preferably discontinue the practice. Therefore, in all such things the National Spiritual Assembly should be careful to ensure that no set practices or forms arise."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Panama, November 24, 1976) (Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 608)

[ ]

[ ABG ]

40 - PREPARATION AND COMPLETION

Why did Ali Baba have to deal with 40 thieves? And why does Lent last for 40 days?

Among the higher numbers, 40 is by far the most fascinating one, being widely used throughout the Middle East and especially in the Persian and Turkish areas. From a purely scientific viewpoint, this number is associated with the disappearance of the Pleiades for 40 days, which was already observed in ancient Babylonia. This was also the length of the rainy season—as we are reminded by the 40 days’ rain that caused Noah’s flood. When the Pleiades returned from their “exile,” the Babylonians celebrated a New Year’s feast. Even today the weather is often predicted for 40 days according to the rule: “If it rains on this or that day we’ll have rainy weather for the next 40 days.” In old German farmers’ traditions, this hold true for 8 June, 2 July, and 1 September, while the Day of the 7 Sleepers, 27 June, is taken to figure the weather for 7 weeks (i.e., 49 days).

One can also explain the importance of 40 by regarding it as a combination of the 28 lunar mansions with the 12 signs of the zodiac. The 40 large stone pillars in Stonehenge, arranged in a sacred circle with a diameter of 40 steps, seems to suggest an astronomical origin for the cult. (Incidentally, a combination of 28 kings or bishops with 12 other personalities to make up a group of 40, is quite frequent in the British-Germanic tradition.) Still another astronomical explanation of the importance of 40 can be found in the 40 aspects of Saturn which, according to the Bible, is the star of Judah. The number also has a biological role: pregnancy was formerly divided into periods of 7 × 40 days in order to observe certain changes in the embryo. Thus, according to the Islamic tradition the fetus is granted a soul after 3 × 40 days.

It seems that from the very beginning 40 has been a number connected with fate, and often with serious situations. The Old Testament claims the ideal length of human life to be 3 × 40 years (120 years), and many of the kings of Israel, including Solomon and David, were said to have ruled for 40 years. The time between the Exodus and the construction of the Temple was 12 generations of 40 years each (480 years). Some later Western scholars, such as Mahler, saw here traces of the “heavenly year” of ancient Near Eastern religions.

Medieval Christian exegesis found numerous allusions to the 40: from the 40 days of the deluge to the 40 years that the Children of Israel wandered in the desert, from the 40 days Moses spent on the mountain to the 40 days during which Christ was tempted by Satan in the desert. Similarly, Christ’s period in the tomb lasted for 40 hours, which were explained by Honorius as pertaining to the revival of the 4 parts of the world: these had been dead as a result of the Decalogue and were now resurrected through Christ. The 40 hours that Christ rested in the tomb later give rise to the Roman Catholic “40 Hours Devotion,” in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for a period of 40 hours, and the faithful take turns praying before it throughout this time.

Mathematically speaking, 40 is a numerus abundans, an “abundant number” that can be divided by 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, and 20, the sum of which (50) is larger than the original number. This fact gave rise to additional speculations around the combinations of the two numbers: the 40 days of Lent before Easter, for example, were taken to refer to the earthly life, while the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost point to eternal life, and so, virtuous life in this world leads to eternal rest and happiness.

St. Augustine interprets 40 as the product of 4, which points to time, and 10, which means “knowledge.” Thus, 40 teaches us to live according to knowledge during our lifetime. One can also think of this mortal life in which humanity has to toil and labor in order to obtain the final consolation that Christ’s appearance between resurrection and ascension—which lasted for 40 days—gives to believers. Again, it is possible to see 40 as the completion of the Law (the 10 Commandments) by the 4 Gospels.

More generally, 40 is the time of waiting and preparation, as becomes evident from biblical groups of 40 days or years. And to be the fortieth in a line is a hopeless situation, as John Donne has jokingly asked in “Love’s Diet”:

What doth it avail
to be the fortieth name in an entail?

Taking 40 as the completion of a stage of life, the Talmud, and later the Catholic church, declares it to be the “canonical age” of man, meaning that the intellect is then fully developed. Indeed, the modern psychologist often perceives a certain change in a person’s development shortly before the onset of the forties: a look at biographies of famous people suffices to prove this point. In German, one calls this age Schwabenalter, alluding to the time when the inhabitants of the province of Swabia finally become mature. But the idea is not restricted to the West.

Along the same line one can mention Turkish expressions like “to play the lute after 40,” which means starting something new and difficult at an advanced age, or “Stupid after 40, always stupid,” which again points to 40 as the number of completion.

In Islamic lore, the importance of 40 is clear from both the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muḥammad (who received his first revelation when he was about 40 years old). As in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the number is associated with the time of mourning or of patiently waiting. Popular mystical traditions claim, for example, that God kneaded Adam’s clay for 40 days. When the end of the world approaches, the Mahdi will remain on earth for 40 years. At the resurrection, the skies will be covered with smoke for 40 days, and the resurrection itself is sometimes thought to last for 40 years.

In both Judaism and Islam, 40 days is the period of purification: after childbirth women remain confined for 40 days. In the Christian tradition, the feast of Candlemas on 2 February marks the end of Mary’s confinement following the birth of Jesus and the completion of the required purification rites. Such rites are also considered necessary after the Islamic period of mourning, which lasts, again, 40 days. A modern development of purification may be seen in the quarantine, which originally lasted, as its name says, for 40 days. Purification plays another role in the Islamic tradition, where it is said that animals should be fed on special fodder 40 days before they are sacrificed; it is also recommended to cut one’s hair and nails once every 40 days.

It goes without saying that such an important number could develop into a round number. Thus one finds groups of 40 throughout Muslim folklore: there are palaces with 40 columns (the garden pavilion Chihil Sutun, “40 pillars,” in Iṣfáhán); heroes appear with 40 horses; mothers in fairy tales produce 40 children or 40 daughters in one birth. The hero has to go through 40 adventures or trials, kills 40 enemies, or finds 40 treasures. Frequently 40 martyrs are mentioned (this is also true for the Christian tradition, especially in Anatolia), and it is said that 40 brave men were slain at the Prophet’s tomb in Medina. Muḥammad’s cousin and son-in-law, ‘Ali, the first imam of Shiite Islam, had 40 disciples. In mystical Islam the 40 saints (arba‘in in Arabic, chihil in Persian, kĭrk: in Turkish) play an important role; the Turkish town Kĭrklareli. “country of the 40,” still tells of its spiritual relations with such saints, and kirklara karĭşmak, “to mix with the 40” means in Turkish “to become invisible” or to disappear completely. Forty is also an important round number for temporal events: the wedding feasts of heroes in Turkish or Persian folklore usually last 40 days and 40 nights.

Forty days or years often occur in proverbial sayings and popular customs. Thus, the medieval Arabic scholar Damiri claims that if a blue-eyed child were suckled for 40 days by an Abyssinian (black) wet nurse, his or her eyes would turn black. Likewise, a proverb current among Bedouins claims that someone who deals with the tribe’s enemies for 40 days becomes one of them. If someone performs the morning prayer for 40 consecutive days under the lamp of the main mosque, he or she will be blessed by the vision of Khidr, the guardian saint of seekers after mystical enlightenment. In Sind, the southernmost province of Pakistan, a man who wants a woman to fall in love with him writes her name for 40 days on the leaves of a particular tree which he then throws in water, while an amulet for a new baby is secured by asking 40 men of the congregation in the mosque during the last Friday of Ramadan to write down the “Fatiha,” the first sura of the Quran.

The popular Turkish character known as Nasrettin Hoca, whose jokes are told all over the country, has advised husbands to follow their wives’ advice once every 40 years. In fact, “once every 40 years” means in Turkish “once in a lifetime,” and when one drinks a cup of coffee with someone, the Turks claim, a 40-year relationship will be established. Can one change a die-hard sinner? No, for “you can put a dog’s tail in a tube for 40 days and it still will not become straight.” Another question heard in Turkey: “Is it not better to be a rooster for 1 day than to be a hen for 40 days?” Turkish folklore contains innumerable expressions in which 40 appears as the comprehensive round number. Our centipede (which, in German, has 1000 feet: Tausendfüßler) is known in Turkish as Kĭrkayak, “with 40 feet,” just as a wealthy person or a big landlord is “endowed with 40 keys.” “The cat of 40 houses” is someone known everywhere while “the latch of 40 doors” is a jack-of-all-trades or else an impudent person who bothers everyone. To complete a long and difficult task one has to “eat bread from 40 ovens,” and someone who sells himself all too cheaply, “turns 9 somersaults for 40 pennies.” Kĭrklamak, “to do something 40 times,” means simply “to repeat frequently.” Medieval Arabs believed that a person who went to the public bath (hammam) every Wednesday for 40 weeks would acquire all the riches of the world, and in modern times, unmarried girls in Baghdad still hope to find a husband by visiting the 3 main mosques of the city 40 times during the weekends.

In the Islamic tradition, 40 has another important function as well: it is the numerical value of the letter mim found at the beginning and middle of the Prophet Muḥammad’s name. Thus it is considered the typical number of the Prophet, all the more as it is also contained in his heavenly name, Aḥmad—and, as the Sufis discovered, when the mim is taken away from this name, the word Ahad remains, and that means “One,” an essential name of God. The difference between the divine One and the created prophet as humanity’s representative was taken to point to the 40 steps that separate mortals from God and that have to be passed in the course of human development. These religious associations in turn induced Muslims to collect sayings and prophetic traditions in groups of 40: the Hadít̲h̲ (sayings of the Prophet) were frequently put together in this way, and according to one of these Hadít̲h̲, the Prophet promises that, “Whosoever among my people learns by heart 40 Hadít̲h̲ about religion will be resurrected at Doomsday along with the religious scholars and jurists.” Such a group might include, for example, 40 sayings of the Prophet concerning a certain topic, such as divine mercy or the importance of writing, or 40 Hadít̲h̲ transmitted by 40 people with the same name, or 40 that were collected in 40 different places, and so on. Such collections of “forties,” as they are called (arba’in), were often artistically copied by master calligraphers.

The letter m, which has the numerical value of 40 in the Arabic alphabet, is worked into the abstract design of this painting by the contemporary Pakistani artist Shemza.

A similar process was applied to the saying of the fourth caliph, ‘Ali, and to verses from the great Persian mystical epic, Jalaladdin Rumi’s Mathnavi. In mystical circles, the fortyfold repetition of religious formulas, particularly those concerning the name of the prophet Muḥammad, was considered to be very effective. But this tendency to form groups of 40 is not restricted to religious literature: profane literature is also apt to include stories about 40 parrots or 40 viziers, or simply 40 stories together. Once again, this is mainly the case in the Persian- and Turkish-speaking areas. But throughout the Muslim world, the alms tax (zakat), which is one of the 5 Pillars of the religion, requires the contribution of of the believer’s wealth to charity.

The old meaning of 40 as a number of preparation carries over prominently to Sufism. The comprehensive Arabic treatise Ihya ‘ulum ad-din (The revival of the religious sciences) by the great medieval theologian and mystic Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali (d. 1111), for example, consists of 40 chapters leading the human being through the different stages of preparation up to the time, discussed in the final and fortieth chapter, when he meets his Lord at the moment of death. The Sufi is supposed to undergo a retreat of 40 days (arba’in in Arabic or chilla in Persian), a period of exclusive concentration on meditation and prayer. The Persian mystical poet Faridaddin ‘Aṭṭar (d. 1220) has interpreted the experiences of the meditating mystic during these 40 days of seclusion in his epic Musibatnama (The book of affliction). The pious repeated the chilla time and again, and it is a topos in Muslim hagiography to claim that a certain person had completed 40 chillas at the time of his death. Even as I was working on this text, an American Jesuit wrote to me, apologizing for his long silence and explaining: “The last year was the most difficult one of what else could I expect? It was., He does not allow you to come out of a chilla and at you can do everything yourself—or?” according to Augustine, 40 points to the integritas, the fullness of the times. And if one does not plain its importance in terms of its being a residue luner myths, it can also be considered a “sanctified” (as Paneth calls it): the sum of (1 × 4) + (2 × 4) + (4 × 4), a number that contains the ideal rean measurement.

[ Schimmel, Annemarie.
The Mystery of Numbers
(Oxford Paperbacks)
(Kindle Locations 2592-2701).
Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. ]

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