Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
January 27, 2026
Scholar Decodes Qur'an's 'Nun' Letter Through Ancient Egyptian & Biblical Parallels
TLDR
- Mahmoud A. Wahab's study offers a novel interpretation of the Qur'anic letter 'Nun' that could provide scholars with a methodological advantage in deciphering other disconnected letters.
- Wahab's book systematically analyzes the letter 'Nun' through Qur'anic coherence, ancient Egyptian cosmology, and Hebrew Bible parallels to decode its symbolic meaning as primordial waters.
- This research bridges Islamic, Egyptian, and Hebrew traditions, fostering deeper interfaith understanding and appreciation of shared cultural and spiritual heritage.
- The study reveals how a single Arabic letter connects creation myths across three major religions through the symbolic concept of primordial waters.
Impact - Why it Matters
This research matters because it offers a fresh methodological approach to understanding the Qur'an's mysterious disconnected letters (muqaṭṭaʿāt), which have puzzled scholars for centuries. By demonstrating how Qur'anic coherence (nazm) can unlock symbolic meanings when combined with careful comparative analysis of earlier religious traditions, Wahab provides a template for future interdisciplinary Quranic studies. The findings bridge religious studies disciplines, showing how ancient Egyptian cosmology and Hebrew Bible concepts can illuminate Islamic scripture without compromising its theological integrity. For readers interested in comparative religion, this work demonstrates how seemingly disparate religious traditions share conceptual frameworks about creation and cosmic order. The study also has implications for interfaith dialogue, revealing shared symbolic language across Abrahamic faiths and their Egyptian religious context. By treating the Qur'an as a coherent whole with purposeful arrangement, this research challenges fragmented approaches to scriptural interpretation and offers a model for integrative religious scholarship that respects each tradition's unique authority while exploring meaningful connections.
Summary
Researcher and writer Mahmoud A. Wahab has released a groundbreaking study titled "The Disconnected Letter 'Nun' at Surah Al-Qalam: In Relation to Ancient Egyptian Religion, Hebrew Bible & Qur'anic Coherence." The book presents a compelling argument that the disconnected letter "Nun" (ن) opening Surah Al-Qalam (68:1) is not an undecipherable cipher but a meaningful symbol encoding the primordial waters—"Nun" in ancient Egyptian cosmology. Wahab grounds his interpretation in four key pillars: the letter Nun itself, ancient Egyptian religion, the Hebrew Bible, and Qur'anic coherence, while maintaining the Qur'an's interpretive primacy throughout his analysis.
Wahab employs a coherence-first methodological approach, treating each sūrah as a thematic unit within the Qur'an's purposeful arrangement. He examines how Surah Al-Qalam's position between Al-Mulk (67) and Al-Haqqah (69) creates a thematic bridge between divine sovereignty and creation in Al-Mulk and final judgment in Al-Haqqah. The book draws on the nazm tradition of Qur'anic coherence to argue that "Nun" functions as a hinge symbol connecting blessing and creation through decree and knowledge to resurrection and judgment. This integrative reading is further supported by examining the book's availability on Amazon, where readers can access this innovative scholarly work.
The study explores fascinating cross-cultural connections, demonstrating how ancient Egyptian cosmology's concept of Nun as the limitless primordial ocean from which creation emerges parallels Hebrew Bible references to the Deep (tĕhôm) in Genesis. Wahab notes these similarities appear "too close to be accidental" while respecting each tradition's unique theological framework. The author's background—born in Egypt in 1975, educated in English literature at ʿAin Shams University, with extensive study of Egyptian culture and civilization—informs his interdisciplinary approach. This volume represents a significant contribution to understanding the muqaṭṭaʿāt (disconnected letters) through Qur'anic coherence and comparative religious studies.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Scholar Decodes Qur'an's 'Nun' Letter Through Ancient Egyptian & Biblical Parallels
