The Arabic letter
Jeem (
) is equivalent to the letter 'J'
in the English alphabet. It is the fifth letter in the Arabic
character set. Jeem () in Arabic numerology
which is known as Abjad, has the value of 3. This article is about
the spiritual meaning of the letter Jeem ().
If we turn to the Quran,
we find that there are exactly three chapters that have names
starting with the letter Jeem ( ) These
three chapters are:
1 Chapter 45 - Al Jaasiyat
37 verses
2 Chapter 62 - Al Jumaa 11 verses
3 Chapter 72 - Al Jinn 28 verses
The first chapter with
its name starting with the Letter Jeem ()
is Al Jaasiyat. Which stands for crouching, bowing. Bowing to
Allah our Rabb. The name Jaasiyat comes from:
First of all we must
die. And each one of us will die without a doubt. When a person
dies, we the Muslims have to pray for the deceased. The funeral
prayer is called Janazah.
When a Muslim passes
away, after the formalities of washing the body, the relatives,
friends and acquaintances, gather for the Janazah
(funeral) prayer. The word Janazah starts with the letter Jeem () and it involves three things which is the
numerical value of the letter Jeem (). The
Janazah (funeral) prayer is a four Takbir (Allahu
Akbar - Allah is Great)
Salah (prayer). First of all, why is Takbir
said four times ?
Remember what was mentioned
in the Book on the Letter Ba (
)?
We are created from 4 elements. These are Earth, Fire, Water and
Air (Spirit). Hence the 4 Takbir are required to remind the deceased
that he/she is made of 4 elements.
The Christians say "Earth to Earth, Dust to Dust...", in Islam, the equivalent could be: "Earth to Earth, Fire to Fire, Water to Water and Spirit to Spirit." Instead we say the Takbir 4 times. Notice here, when a child is born, the Azan (Call to Prayer) is said in the ears of the new born. The first words that the new born hears is the Takbir repeated 4 times. Likewise when we die, the last thing we hear is the Takbir repeated 4 times. We have completed our physical journey above the earth at death for the time being until the Day of Resurrection. We have completed one complete circle or 'orbit'. That is all we are allowed unlike the earth which is allowed numerous orbits. Each one of us completes this 'orbit' in their own life spans. And that life span is made of different number of years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds. That is the one side of the Janazah. The other side of Janazah has 3 parts.
There are three things
involved in the Janazah prayer. This is equivalent to numerical
value of the Letter Jeem (). After
the Niyah (intention) for prayer, the Imam
pronounces first Takbir (Allahu
Akbar). After the first
Takbir there is the recitation of Sana (Glorification
and Praise) for Allah. After the second Takbir,
Darood (Blessings) are sent upon Muhammad 
.
After the third Takbir, Dua
Janazah (funeral prayer)
is recited. The Dua
Janazah (funeral prayer)
is basically asking Allah to forgive everyone, especially the
deceased. After the fourth Takbir, we say the Salaam
(Peace) and the prayer is complete. The deceased is then buried.
Overall, three things are required for the deceased.
1 Washing the body.
2 Saying Janazah prayer.
3 Burying the body.
Janazah is one form of gathering. The other sort of gathering is the Jumaa.
The other form of gathering is the Jumaa. This is the Friday prayer. And the day which is Friday is also called Jumaa based on the gathering. There is a subtlety here with chapter number !
Al Jaasiyat is Chapter
number 45. The chapter number is perfectly divisible by 3 the
numerical value of the Letter Jeem ().
45 divided by 3 = 15
The chapter number for
Jumaa (62) cannot be divided by 3 without leaving a remainder.
If we reduce the chapter number to single digit we get (6 + 2
= ) 8. The Letter with the numerical value = 8 is the Letter Ha
(
) for Hamd.
Why is the Chapter number for Jumaa (62) not perfectly divisible by
3 ? Why does it reduce to 8 for Ha () ? The first verse of Chapter Jumaa answers that question.
Allah has chosen the day of Jumaa (Friday) for the Muslims. It is the day of collective Praise for Allah. It is the day of Gathering. Notice that the Chapter number when divided by 3:
62 divided by 3 = 20 remainder 2.
Normally afternoon prayer Zuhr Fard is 4 Rakah prayer. But on Jumaa (Friday) the Fard Prayer is reduced to 2 Rakah. No wonder the chapter number for Jumaa has deliberately been placed as 62.
It was stated at the
start of this section that 62 reduces to 8 for Hamd.
The difference between Ha ()
and Jeem () is one dot. And speaking of dots,
there is another creation about which Allah has informed us in
the Quran. They are the Jinn.
The third and final chapter
named with the initial Letter Jeem () is
Jinn Chapter 72. Again this chapter number is perfectly
divisible by 3
72 divided by 3 = 24. No remainder.
A lot has been written about Jinn by other people. We must understand that the majority of the Jinn are evil except for those who have accepted the Guidance of Allah from the Quran and entered Islam. It would suffice to quote a few verses from the Quran.
And speaking of Spirits...
)Muhammad
used to retire to the Cave Hira for contemplation. And then one
day ...
... suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, "I do not know how to read."
The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, 'Read in the name of your Rabb (Lord), who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Read! And your Rabb (Lord) is the Most Generous." [Sahih Bukhari]
What was the name of
the angel ? Jibreel (). Jibreel's name starts with the
Letter Jeem (). He pressed Muhammad
3 (= ) times. Only then could Muhammad
Recite.
If we turn to the Quran
to find the mention of Jibreel () by Name, he is mentioned exactly
3 () times in 3 verses:
The Letter Jeem () is about Jumaa
Gathering. The ultimate Jumaa (gathering) will take place on
the Day of Judgement. Where all the people human and Jinn will be gathered awaiting news of their fate. Jannah Heaven or Jahannam Hell.
May Allah have Mercy on us all. Ameen.
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