2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rahman al-Muqri al-Hakim said: Abu `Amr Muhammad ibn Ja`far al-Muqri al-Jurjani said: Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Musili said in Baghdad that Muhammad ibn `Asim al-Tarifi said: Abu Zayd `Ayyash ibn Yazid ibn al-Hasan ibn `Ali al-Kahhal, the freed slave of Zayd ibn `Ali, said: Abu Yazid ibn al-Hasan related to me that Musa ibn Ja`far related to me, on the authority of his father that Al-Husayn ibn `Ali ibn Abu Talib said:

A Jewish person came to the Prophet while the Commander of the Faithful `Ali ibn Abu Talib was with him and asked: “What is the meaning of the letters of the alphabet? Thus, the Messenger of Allah said to `Ali , “Answer him, and prayed: `O Allah, grant him success and show him the right way.” Therefore, Ali ibn Abu Talib explained, “There is not a letter of the alphabet that does not stand for a name of Allah, the Mighty and High.” He then added, The letter * [alif] “a” stand for “Allah, besides whom there is no god, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting;” The letter * [ba] “b” stands for “the Ever-Remaining even after the end of the creation;” The letter * [ta] “t” stands for “the Oft-Returning (in mercy) who accepts the repentance from His Servants;” The letter * [tha] “th” stands for “the Firm Creator,” Allah confirms those who believe with the sure word in this world’s life. The letter * [jim] “j” stands for “high is His praise, and sacred are His Names;” The letter * [ha] “h” stands for “the Truth [haqq], the Ever-Living [hai], and he Forbearing [halim];” The letter * [kha] “kh” stands for “the All-Informed of what the servants to;” The letter * [dal] “d” stands for “the Rewarder of the Day of Judgment.” And the letter * [dhal] “dh” stands for “the Lord of glory and Honor” [dhul jalal wa-alikram]. The letter * [ra] “r” stands for “the Affectionate towards His Servants;” And the letter * [za] “z” stands for “the Beauty of the worshipped.” The letter * [sin] “s” stands for “the All-Hearing and All-Seeing;” The letter * [shin] “sh” stands for “the Thankful to His Believing Servants;” The letter * [sad] “s” stands for “the Most Truthful in His Promise [wa`d] and threat [wa`id];” And the letter * [dhad] “d” stands for “the Punisher [dar] and the Beneficial.” The letter * [ta] “t” stands for “the Pune [Tahir] and the One who Purifies;” The letter * [za] “z” stands for “the Manifested and the One that Manifests His Signs;” The letter * [`ayn] “`” stands for “the All-Knowing of His Servants;” And the letter * [ghayn] “gh” stands for “the Aid of all those from His Creation who seek help.” The letter * [fa] “f” stands for “the Splitter of the seeds and fruit kernels;” The letter * [qaf] “q” stands for “the All-Powerful over all of His Creation;” The letter * [kaf] “k” stands for “the Sufficient who there is non like unto Him and He begets not, nor is He begotten;” The letter * [lam] “l” stand for “the Kind over His servants;” The letter * [mim] “m” stands for “the Master of sovereignty;” The letter * [nun] “n” stands for “the light of heavens from the Light of His Throne;” The letter * [wa’u] “w” stands for “the One [Wahid], the Uique and the Needless, who begets not, nor is He begotten;” The letter * [ha] “h” stands for “the guide for His Creation;” The letter * [la] “la” stands for “there is no god but Allah;” And finally the letter * [ya] stands for `Allah’s Hand which Extends over all His Creatures.” Then the Messenger of Allah responded, “Allah, the Mighty and High, is pleased with this answer.” Consequently, the Jewish man accepted Islam.