'Ilm al-huruf

ʿIlm al-Ḥurūf (Arabic: عِلْم الْحُرُوف) or the science of letters, also called Islamic letterism, is a process of Arabic numerology whereby numerical values assigned to Arabic letters are added up to provide total values for words in the Quran, similar to Hebrew gematria. Used to infer meanings and reveal secret or hidden messages.

ʿIlm al-Ḥurūf is composed of the two words ʿilm (Arabic: عِلْم) meaning "knowledge", and ḥurūf (Arabic: حُرُوف), the plural of the word ḥarf (Arabic: حَرْف), meaning "letters".

Table of letter values

Arabic alphabet	name	numerological value
ا	ʼalif	1
ب	bāʼ	2
ج	jīm	3
د	dāl	4
ه	hāʼ	5
و	wāw	6
ز	zāy	7
ح	ḥāʼ	8
ط	ṭāʼ	9
ي	yāʼ	10
ك	kāf	20
ل	lām	30
م	mīm	40
ن	nūn	50
س	sīn	60
ع	ʿayn	70
ف	fāʼ	80
ص	ṣād	90
ق	q̈āf	100
ر	rāʼ	200
ش	šīn	300
ت	tāʼ	400
ث	thāʼ	500
خ	khāʼ	600
ذ	ḏāl	700
ض	ḍād	800
ظ	ẓāʼ	900
غ	ġayn	1000

Ilm Al-Huruf Martial Arts

Ilm al-Huruf Martial Arts, also known as Sufi Martial Arts, is an Islamic martial arts system rooted in the mystical tradition of ‘ilm al-huruf (the science of letters). This discipline expresses the Arabic letters into physical movements, performed both with the body and a cane.

Ilm Al-Huruf Martial Arts Foundation

The system draws inspiration from the teachings of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani (1922–2014), a prominent master of the Naqshbandi Sufi order.

Ilm Al-Huruf Training

Ilm Al-Huruf Martial Arts involves:

• Body movements shaped by the geometry of the Arabic alphabet.
• Cane techniques, where the stick’s motions mirror calligraphic movements.
• Breath control and meditation, aligning physical practice with Sufi dhikr (remembrance of Allah).

The art is taught at Rabbany, a Swiss-based center dedicated to Islamic spirituality and martial arts. Further details can be found on their official website: https://www.rabbany.ch.

See also

• Gematria
• Hurufism
• Hurufiyya movement
• Western Arabic numerals
• Eastern Arabic numerals

Bibliography

• Ilm Al Huroof Martial Arts / Sufi Martial Arts , Rabbany. https://www.rabbany.ch
• Bahr al-Karai'b, Tayyeb Zohair, Heravi Mohammad (Thiqatul islam), Islamic Turath, 2024, ISBN 9786226946179.
• Sciences occultes et Islam, Pierre Lory, Annick Regourd, Institut français de Damas, 1993, ISBN 2901315046, ISBN 9782901315049.
• Coran et talismans : textes et pratiques magiques en milieu musulman, Hommes et sociétés, Constant Hamès, KARTHALA Éditions, 2007, ISBN 2845868731, ISBN 9782845868731.
• Fahd, T. "Ḥurūf". In Bearman, P.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C.E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W.P. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Brill.
• René Guénon, Les Symboles de la Science Sacrée, Éditions Gallimard, Paris, "La Science des lettres", "Les Mystères de la lettre Nun", "La Montagne et la Caverne"
• Michel Valsan, L'Islam et la fonction de René Guénon, Éditions de l'Œuvre, Paris, un symbole idéographique de l'Homme Universel, le Triangle de l'Androgyne et le monosyllabe Ôm.
• Ibn Arabi, Les Illuminations de La Mecque, Éditions Albin Michel, Paris, 1997, "La Science des lettres", translation and commentary by Denis Gril.
• Charles André Gilis, Les sept étendards du califat, Éditions Al-bouraq, Paris, 1993.