Alif Laam Meem
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Oh man now this is really interesting!! I just read wikipedia, and it mentions that Hamiduddin Farahi also used a similar interpretation! And he did use the Qabalic symbolism.
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muqatta'at
Seems this may very well be the key to cracking the code! But it needs further study!!
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Another one! Chapter 38
Saad in Arabic imples Saadiq or Full of Truth! And the Phoenician symbol is Papyrus Plant.
Hence,
This Book (Written on Papyrus) is Full of Truth! But nay, the deniers are lost in false pride and opposition for the sake of opposition. Hence, they split their own personalities forcing themselves into maintaining double standards in life, like flakes of papyrus that split! (?Shiqaq? = Opposition, schism, splitting, split-personality. Double standards; since denial of a reality does not make it disappear).
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Salam maxq,
Excellent to see such an in-depth examination of the semitic languages!
And a very good thought on alif-lam-meem.
However, I think one must keep in mind the common definitions of the word as accepted in the different languages.
Then we can compare the accepted definitions with the Phoenician in order to "fine tune" our understanding of the word.Let's look at alif-lam-meem.
In Hebrew alif-lam-meem is defined as
(strong's numbers 0481 and 0482, and Gesenius)- to bind, to be bound (as in the tongue-to be silent)
a. (Niphal) - to be dumb
- to be bound
b. (Piel) binding (part.) - in silence, silent
- to be solitary, forsaken, widowed
In Arabic alif-lam meem is defined as
(Hans Wehr page 29, Lane's Lexicon vol 1 pg 119)- to be in pain or suffer
These two meanings are pretty different but one can see that in both cases the word doesn't suggest something pleasant.
If you look at alif lam meem in Phoenician one could interpret it in a way that is somewhat consistant with the meanings in Hebrew and Arabic (in the sense that this word is not something one would consider pleasant)
I would also alter the meanings of the ancient hebrew symbols somewhat, to be the following
(source is ancient-Hebrew.org)Alif -> Phoenician Symbol = Ox = This is a picture of the head of an ox. The ox was the strongest and most versatile animals among the Hebrews livestock. The ox was used to pull carts or a plow, it provided meat and leather and it was one of the animals used in sacrifices. This animal was the "all" powerful and "all" versatile animal of the Hebrews.
The strength of the ox is used for hauling and pulling.
Laam -> Phoenician Symbol = Shepherd staff = The Hebrews raised sheep for wool, food, leather and milk. The Hebrew shepherd always carried a staff which could be used as a weapon to protect the flock from predators as well as to discipline the sheep. The staff also had a bent end that could be used to pull a "lamb".
The staff is seen as the authority and protection of the shepherd over his flock. The kings scepter comes from this imagery.
Meem -> Phoenician Symbol = Water= The picture is of the waves of water on the sea. There is no English word derived from this letter, but, our letter "M" was derived from this letter.
The sea was seen by the Hebrews as a mighty and chaotic (from the storms) place.
The main difference would be that I would interpret the meem to mean "chaos" or something similiar.
Thanks maxq!
Excellent work!Salam,
Arnab - to bind, to be bound (as in the tongue-to be silent)
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Better yet!! Chapter 68
By The Inkpot and Pen, like a Fish in Water, (and the Word the Pen Traces like a fish swims its course!)
You (O Messenger), by the blessing of your Lord, are not one for whom reality is hidden.In arabic, also represents the inkpot btw... but it does make sense from the Phoenician symbol since we see that the prophet Jonah is mentioned! Jonah and the fish that almost had him!! Wow, this is amazing!
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This interpretation is definitely possible. Can you present a rendition of 21-2 so we can examin this further?
Salam maxq,
Excellent to see such an in-depth examination of the semitic languages!
And a very good thought on alif-lam-meem.
However, I think one must keep in mind the common definitions of the word as accepted in the different languages.
Then we can compare the accepted definitions with the Phoenician in order to "fine tune" our understanding of the word.Let's look at alif-lam-meem.
In Hebrew alif-lam-meem is defined as
(strong's numbers 0481 and 0482, and Gesenius)- to bind, to be bound (as in the tongue-to be silent)
a. (Niphal) - to be dumb
- to be bound
b. (Piel) binding (part.) - in silence, silent
- to be solitary, forsaken, widowed
In Arabic alif-lam meem is defined as
(Hans Wehr page 29, Lane's Lexicon vol 1 pg 119)- to be in pain or suffer
These two meanings are pretty different but one can see that in both cases the word doesn't suggest something pleasant.
If you look at alif lam meem in Phoenician one could interpret it in a way that is somewhat consistant with the meanings in Hebrew and Arabic (in the sense that this word is not something one would consider pleasant)
I would also alter the meanings of the ancient hebrew symbols somewhat, to be the following
(source is ancient-Hebrew.org)Alif -> Phoenician Symbol = Ox = This is a picture of the head of an ox. The ox was the strongest and most versatile animals among the Hebrews livestock. The ox was used to pull carts or a plow, it provided meat and leather and it was one of the animals used in sacrifices. This animal was the "all" powerful and "all" versatile animal of the Hebrews.
The strength of the ox is used for hauling and pulling.
Laam -> Phoenician Symbol = Shepherd staff = The Hebrews raised sheep for wool, food, leather and milk. The Hebrew shepherd always carried a staff which could be used as a weapon to protect the flock from predators as well as to discipline the sheep. The staff also had a bent end that could be used to pull a "lamb".
The staff is seen as the authority and protection of the shepherd over his flock. The kings scepter comes from this imagery.
Meem -> Phoenician Symbol = Water= The picture is of the waves of water on the sea. There is no English word derived from this letter, but, our letter "M" was derived from this letter.
The sea was seen by the Hebrews as a mighty and chaotic (from the storms) place.
The main difference would be that I would interpret the meem to mean "chaos" or something similiar.
Thanks maxq!
Excellent work!Salam,
Arnab - to bind, to be bound (as in the tongue-to be silent)
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Salam maqx,
That's interesting and definitely possible.
My thoughts were leaning more towards "strong teaching in chaos" in the abstract
or more along the lines of your original thoughts but replacing "water" with "rought water"
such as goading the ox through rough waters.Salam,
Arnab -
Just studied the Heiroglyph and its transition to Phoenician
The symbol for Mem in Ancient Egyptian, and it is indeed "water" and not sea. Water ws the bread and butter for them, and I think the same goes for Phoenicians. They were in the Lebanon area, so a sea strom is unlikely. Rather an earthquake would be more of a problem for them.
So I think my interpretation is correct as well.
Also, another interesting point. Ha or "H" as in Kaaf, Haa, Yaa, Aeen, Saad means window, or Jubilation of BIRTH!!! Both Jesus and John-Baptist are spoken of in this Chapter (Maryam)
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salam maxq,
That's a good point. Especially when you point out the Egyptian meem is "water" It would make more sense that water would be something favorable as opposed to unfavorable.
Very interesting.Salam,
Arnab -
Thanks Arnab,
Further, extending the concept of K H Y 'A tS based on the context of Chapter 19 (Mariam)
Kaaf -> branch/palm-of-hand
Haa -> Birth
Yaa -> Arm/Extending/Extension/Reaching-Out
'Aeen -> Eye/Vision
tSaad -> Papyrus/Plant/TruthHence Kaaf Haa Yaa 'Aeen tSaad -means- A Branch's Sprouting Extends the Vision of Truth (of the Scripture)
Just studied the Heiroglyph and its transition to Phoenician
The symbol for Mem in Ancient Egyptian, and it is indeed "water" and not sea. Water ws the bread and butter for them, and I think the same goes for Phoenicians. They were in the Lebanon area, so a sea strom is unlikely. Rather an earthquake would be more of a problem for them.
So I think my interpretation is correct as well.
Also, another interesting point. Ha or "H" as in Kaaf, Haa, Yaa, Aeen, Saad means window, or Jubilation of BIRTH!!! Both Jesus and John-Baptist are spoken of in this Chapter (Maryam)
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Salam,
maxq can you please post a referrence where I can find that the Egyptian meem=water?
I just did some quick research on Egyptian hieroglyphics and I keep coming up with meem being the symbol of an owl and nun being a symbol of water.
However, I still think that water might be favorable as opposed to unfavorable.
Salam,
Arnab -
Salam,
Nevermind maxq, I just answered my own question.
For all those interested there is a brief history of meem on wikipediahttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M
quote from wikipedia
"The letter M derives its shape from the Phoenician Mem, via the Greek Mu (, μ. Semitic Mem originally pictured water, in all probability. It is speculated that Semitic people working in Egypt c. 2000 BC borrowed a hieroglyph for Water that was first used for an alveolar nasal (/n/, because of the Egyptian word for Water, "n-t". This same symbol became used for M in Semitic, because their word for water began with that sound."
Salam,
Arnab -
Salam,
Further, extending the concept of K H Y 'A tS based on the context of Chapter 19 (Mariam)
Kaaf -> branch/palm-of-hand
Haa -> Birth
Yaa -> Arm/Extending/Extension/Reaching-Out
'Aeen -> Eye/Vision
tSaad -> Papyrus/Plant/TruthHence Kaaf Haa Yaa 'Aeen tSaad -means- A Branch's Sprouting Extends the Vision of Truth (of the Scripture)
Very possible!
Would you mind posting some links as to where you are studying?
Salam,
Arnab -
The reason why I think Kaaf here means branching and not hand-palm is because of the Verse, "Allah-u Noor-us Samaawaat-i w allArdh" mentions that the allegory of His Light is as if it were a lamp that is hung on an "OLIVE" tree... Then another instance where the Quran says "W at-Teen-i w az-Zaitoon-i wa Toor-i Seeneen" ... It mentions mount Sinai (Moses) and the (Mount of) Olive (Jesus). You see the connection?
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Salam,
Interestingly enough, the word kaph in hebrew (strongs # 3709) is defined as the following
- palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand
a. palm, hollow or flat of the hand
b. power
c. sole (of the foot)
d. hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects - of thigh-joint
- pan, vessel (as hollow)
- hollow (of sling)
- hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees)
- handles (as bent)
Salam,
Arnab - palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand