ZA – THE ARABIC LETTER

February 19, 2013 March 13, 2026

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أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ٱلْرَّجِيمِ
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

I seek refuge in Allah (AJ) from the accursed Satan
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Alhamdulillah (All praise is for Allah). Durood wa Salaam (blessings and peace) on Muhammad, his holy Family, and his holy Companions.

Zaa ز = 7

7 = Heavenly Value

7^th Letter in Abjad – The Arabic Numerology

11^th Letter in Arabic Alphabet

INTRODUCTION

The Arabic letter Za (ز) in the Arabic character set is 11.
In the numerical character set, Abjad, Za (ز) has the value of 7.
This article is about the spiritual meaning of the letter Za (ز).

THE LETTER ZA (ز)

The Letter Za (ز) has a numerical value of 7. There are three Chapters in the Quran which are named with the initial Letter Za in their names. These three Chapters are:

Surat uz Zumar — سُورَةُ الزُّمَرِ (Chapter 39, 75 Verses)
Surat uz Zukhruf — سُورَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ (Chapter 43, 89 Verses)
Surat uz Zalzalah — سُورَةُ الزَّلْزَلَةِ (Chapter 99, 8 Verses)

[Hajj Rituals: 7 tawwaf of Ka’abah, 7 Sa’yi (walking in Safa wal Marwa), Hitting 7 pebbles at each of the three pillars in Jamarat]
[7 hells, 7 paradises]

PAIR OF ZA (ز)

Pair (in Arabic)is Zawj (زوج).

The two Letters Za (ز) equate to 7 + 7 = 14.

In the Quran we find that Chapter 14 is Ibraheem. Ibraheem (as) was the father of Ismaeel (as) and Is-haaq (as). [Quran 14:39]

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ ‎﴿٣٩﴾

14:39 – “Alhamdu lillaahil lazee wahaba lee ‘alal kibari Ismaa’eela wa Ishaaq; inna Rabbee lasamee’ud du’aaa .” (Surat Ibrahim)

“Praise be to Allah, who has granted to me in old age Ishmael and Ishaaq (Isaac). Indeed, my Rabb (Lord) is the Hearer of supplication.” (Abraham, 14:39)

If we look at THE HOLY QURAN commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali:

Note 1917: Ibraheem was 100 years old when Iss_haaq was born (Gen. xxi. 5); and as Ismaeel was 13 years old when Ibraheem was 99. (Gen. xvii. 24-25), Ismaeel was also a son of his father’s old age, having been born when Abraham was 86 years old. The younger son’s progeny developed the Faith of Israel and that of Christ; the elder son’s progeny perfected the more universal Faith of Islam, the Faith of Ibraheem the Hanif (True). (14.39)

Ismaeel (as) was born when Ibraheem (as) was 86 years old (8 + 6 = 14).
Iss_haaq (as) was born when Ibraheem (as) was 100.
The difference between the age of the two brothers was 14 years (double Za (ز).

From the Quran Hadees and history, we find that Ibraheem (as) left his wife Hajara (as) and son Ismaeel (as) in the desert at the place which is now Makkah. Hajara (as) prayed to Allah (AJ) for water….[hds 1]

…….Jibreel hit the earth with his heel like this (Ibn Abbas hit the earth with his heel to illustrate it), and so the water gushed out. Ismaeel’s mother was astonished and started digging. (Abu Al Qasim) (i.e. the Prophet) said, “If she had left the water, (flow naturally without her intervention), it would have been flowing on the surface of the earth.”)……[Sahih Bukhari]

And that well still exists to this day better known as Zam-zam.

ZAM-ZAM زمزم

From pair of Letters Za (ز).
We arrived at two more Letters which are a pair of Meem (م), and we have Zam-zam زمزم.

[Hadith – Cool your fever with Zam-zam ]
(Abu Jamra Ad Dabi said:) I used to sit with Ibn Abbas in Mecca. Once I had a fever and he said (to me), “Cool your fever with Zam-zam water, for RasoolAllah (pbuh) said: ‘It (the fever) is from the heat of the (Hell) Fire; so, cool it with water (or Zam-zam water).’ ” [Sahih Bukhari] [hds 2]

Allah (AJ) has blessed that well of Zam-Zam. Allah (AJ) sent Jibreel (as) to dig the water of Zam-zam for the ancestors of Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh). So how can the water of Zam-zam not be special ? Allah (AJ) wanted Muhammad’s (pbuh) ancestors to live there. And Allah (AJ) chose that place for His first House of worship.

After centuries, Allah (AJ) sent the same Jibreel (as) to the same place (Makkah) to reveal the Quran to His Chosen One, Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh) whose name has two Meems (م)-[Muhammad (محمد)]

PAIR OF MEEM (م)

From double (ز) to Zam-zam زمزم.
From Zam-zam to double Meem (م).
If we look at the word Zam-zam it is Double Zam (زم زم) ! Or a pair of Zam زم

And what is Zam زم?

We have to keep in mind, that Allah (AJ) is the same Allah (AJ), during the time of Ibraheem (as) and Ismaeel (as).
Allah (AJ) is the same Allah (AJ), during the time of Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh).
Allah (AJ) is the same Allah (AJ) even today. There is no change in Him. He always existed. And He will always exist. Everything else will perish.

To show the beauty of the Quran, Kalaam Allah (AJ) and its divine nature:

Zam زم is : م 40 + ز 7
- 7 + 40 = 47
What is the name of Chapter 47 in the Quran ? (Surat) MUHAMMAD (pbuh).
In the water from Zam-zam there are healing qualities. In the Quran there are healing qualities.

Zam-zam was made available to Ismaeel (as) and his descendants as a Mercy from Allah (AJ). The Quran has been revealed as a Mercy and Healing for the Believers. But Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh) has been sent as a Mercy to all the worlds from Allah (AJ), the Rabb (Lord) of all the worlds.

Sayyidina Muhammad (s) in Isra at Masjid al Aqsa leading the prayer [Quran 21:107 – Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh) Sent As Mercy to Creation]

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَ‌حْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١٠٧﴾

21:107 – “Wa maa arsalnaka illa Rahmatal lil’alameen.” (Surat Al-Anbiya)

“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad (pbuh)], except as a mercy to the worlds/creation.” (The Prophets, 21:107)

Because Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh) is Zaeem ul Anbiyaa – Chief of the Messengers (as) of Allah (AJ).

RETURNING TO THE NUMBER 7

Finally, let us look at the number 7 the numerical value of Za (ز).
What is so special about the number 7 ?
Why do most people feel that the number 7 is Lucky ?
One of the reasons is that there are 7 openings in the human head.
Subconsciously most people associate the number 7 with those openings in the head without realizing.
It is through these 7 openings we tend to take in the majority of information. The information can be good or evil.
We have to guard ourselves against the evil.
That is the physical aspect for this world. And this is explained by Allah (AJ) in the Quran as follows :
[Quran 15:42-44 – 7 Gates of Hell] [Q’n]

15:42-44 – “Indeed, My servants – no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators. (42) And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all. (43) It has seven gates; for each of those gates is (special) class (of sinners assigned). (44)” (Surat Al-Hijr (The Rocky Tract), 15:42-44)

How does Shaytan try and lead us astray ?

By making us use our 7 openings in the head for evil purposes.
Everything in the Quran has relevance to this world and there is a spiritual side to the meaning of the Quran in the next world.
There are 7 other gates (or openings) that Allah (AJ) has given to the Muslims.
That is the Al Fatihah, Chapter 1 of the Quran.

87 We have given you seven of the most repeated (verses) and the great Quran.
[Quran 15:87] – Given you Seven Most Repeated Verses]

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنَ الْعَظِيمَ ‎﴿٨٧﴾‏

15:87 – “Wa laqad aatainaaka sab’am minal masaani wal Quranal ‘Azeem.” (Surat Al-Hijr)

“And We have certainly bestowed upon you, [O Muhammad], seven of the often-repeated [verses] (Al Fatiha) and the magnificent Qur’an.” (The Rocky Tract, 15:87)

Salah and No. 7

The five daily prayers are not accepted by Allah (AJ) unless we recite these 7 most repeated verses (Fatiha) in every Rakah.
And finally how do we do Sajdah (prostrate) to Allah (AJ)? By touching 7 parts of the body on the ground. The toes of both feet, both the knees, the palms of both hands and the forehead which include the tip of the nose.
And after each Rakah, there is double Sajdah. Or a pair of Sajdah. That is touching the 7 parts of the human body on the ground. That is 2 x 7 parts of the body touching the ground. We are back full circle to PAIR OF ZA (14).

May Allah (AJ) have Mercy on us all and guide us to the Sirat al Mustaqeem – The Straight Path. Ameen.

Only Allah (AJ) Knows Best.

Khalid M. Malik Ghouri

Darood (Blessings) and Salaam (Peace) on Muhammad, His Family, and His Companions

Names of Allah (AJ) Starting with the Letter – Za

Durood and Salaam (Blessings and peace) on Sayyidina Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh), his holy Family, and his holy Companions.

اَللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدْ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ.

Allahumma salli ’ala Sayyidina Muhammadin, Wa ’ala aali Sayyidina Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘alaa Sayyidina Ibrahima wa ‘alaa aali Sayyidina Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid.

O Allah, send peace and blessings upon our master Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh) and upon the holy family of our master Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad (pbuh), as you sent blessings upon our master Abraham (pbuh) and upon the family of our master Abraham (pbuh). You are the Praised One, Most Glorious.

Date of Article by Author:
09 November 1999 /01 Shaban 1420
9 / 11 / 1999/ 01 / 8 / 1420

Date of Article updated: Dec 25, 2024

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