Nassir H. Sabah
The numbers 7 and 19 are mystical numbers that form the basis of many numerical relations and patterns in the Quran, as illustrated by numerous examples in articles on this website under “Insights/Supplements/Numerical Miraculousness.
Interestingly, the ratio 19/7 = 2.71429… is equal to Euler’s number, or “e”, the base of the natural logarithm, to within approximately 0.15%. “e” is important in mathematics, probability theory, physics, and in processes of continuous growth and decay in which the rate of increase or decrease of a quantity with respect to time is proportional to the quantity itself.
7 and 19 are interrelated, as illustrated by the following:
(i) if the numbers 1 to 7 are concatenated, with the smallest number on the right, bearing in mind that Arabic written from right to left, the resulting number 7,654,321 = 19×402,859 is a multiple of 19, where 402,859 is a prime number whose digits add to 28 = 4×7;
(ii) if the even numbers between 1 and 7 are concatenated with the odd numbers from 1 to 7, the resulting number 1735246 = 2×11×17×19×191 is a multiple of 19. The numbers 11 and 17 are of special significance(1),(2), and the two most significant digits of 191 are 19, whereas its two least significant digits, 91, are the reverse of 19.
(iii) starting with the number 25, which is the first perfect square larger than 19, the number 19 is the 7th number counting downwards from 25.
The number 7 has mystical symbolism in practically all ancient cultures and religions since at least Babylonian times. It is encountered in many instances, such as:
(i) the week has 7 days;
(ii) the visible spectrum, although it contains a continuous range of colors, is conventionally considered to have 7 primary colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet;
(iii) the highest number of shells, or electron energy levels, an atom can have in its ground state is 7 as of now (the periodic table of elements currently has 7 periods; elements 95-118 in the 7th period have been synthesized but element 119, which would fall in the 8th period, has not yet proved possible to synthesize;
(iv) The nitrogen atom has 7 neutrons, 7 protons, and 7 electrons. Nitrogen is the 7th most abundant element in the Milky Way Galaxy, as estimated spectroscopically, and is of crucial importance for life on Earth. Nitrogen gas comprises nearly 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere, where it contributes to temperature control of the Earth and prevents rapid and uncontrolled uptake of oxygen in nature and in our bodies. Nitrogen is an essential component of amino acids, proteins, enzymes, DNA, RNA, nitric oxide (which improves blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues, including the brain, protects the lining of blood vessels from damage, and contributes to muscle growth, repair, and wound healing). It is also a component of chlorophyll (which enables, through photosynthesis, plants, algae, and some bacteria to convert light energy into chemical energy while absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen). Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, development and reproduction and is a key component in the nitrogen cycle, which governs the movement of nitrogen between the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
The number 7 is repeated in the Quran 24 times, and its multiple, 70, is repeated 3 times. The number 7 is first mentioned in Verse 29, Chapter 2, after 28 verses, a multiple of 7, in the chapter, in referring to 7 heavens, The Quran also speaks of 7 earths or Earth levels or layers (65:12), and 7 gates of Hell (15:44). But it must be borne in mind that in Arabic the number 7 can mean an unspecified, somewhat large multiplicity, rather than an exact number.
The number 19 is also of mystical significance. It consists of the first (nonzero) and the last numerals of the decimal system and is considered to be a reference to The First and The Last, these being two of The Most Exalted Names of The Almighty, as in Verse 3, Chapter 57: “He is the First, and the Last, and the Outward, and the Inward; and He is Knower of all things.” هُوَ ٱلْأَوَّلُ وَٱللآخِر وَٱلظَّـٰهِرُ وَٱلْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ. This is similar to the Biblical passage: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13), where alpha and omega are the first and last letters, respectively, of the classical Greek alphabet. In Arabic gematria, whereby each letter is assigned a numerical value, the value of the Divine Name Wāḥid (One وَاحِد) is 19.
The number 19 is believed to have been the first number revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and is mentioned only once in the Quran in Verse 30, Chapter 74: “Over it are nineteen.”عَلَيْهَا تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ. Although this verse is interpreted as an allusion to the number of angels who are the keepers of Hell, Verse 31 that follows states: “And We have appointed none but angels as wardens of the Fire; and We have not appointed their number save as a trial for those who disbelieve, to grant certainty to those who have been given the Book and increase in faith those who believe; and that those who were given the Book and the believers will not doubt; and that those in whose hearts is a disease and the disbelievers will say, What does God desire by this as a parable?…”وَمَا جَعَلْنَآ أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلنَّارِ إِلَّا مَلَـٰٓئِكَةً ۙ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَيَزْدَادَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِيمَـٰنًا ۙ وَلَا يَرْتَابَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۙ وَلِيَقُولَ ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ مَاذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا مَثَلًا.
The verse asserts that the number 19 assures the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) about the truth of the Quranic revelation and enhances the faith of believers in this truth. Evidently, this is a reference to something awesome associated with the number 19, which is the numerical relations and patterns in which it is involved.
Another set of numbers that have special significance are perfect numbers, where a perfect number is a number that is equal to the sum of all its proper divisors, that is, the numbers it is divisible by, including 1 but excluding the number itself. The first perfect number is 6, whose proper divisors are 1, 2, and 3, which sum to 6. The second perfect number is 28, whose proper divisors are 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14, which sum to 28.
The first perfect number 6 is found in the number of chapters of the Quran, 114 = 6x19, where 19 is also a mystical number. The numbered verses in the Quran are 6236, which begins and ends with 6. The number 23 in the middle is also the number of years over which the Quran was revealed and consists of 2 and 3, the prime factors of 6. The disjointed letters at the beginnings of 29 chapters of the Quran form 14 different phrases and use 14 Arabic letters. The sum is 28, which is the second perfect number and is also a multiple of the mystical number 7. Interestingly, the number of letters of the Arabic alphabet is 28.
It should be note that primary numbers as well as odd and even numbers are also of special significance in the Quran, as explained in the articles “Pattern of Prime Numbers in the Quran” and “Pattern of Even and Odd Numbers in the Quran” on this website under “Insights/Supplements/Numerical Miraculousness”.
Can all this be coincidental?
(1) For the significance of the number 11 see the article “Authenticity of the Quran: The Basmalah” on this website under “Insights/Supplements/Numerical Miraculousness”.
(2) For the significance of the number 17 see the article “Authenticity of the Quran: The First Chapter” on this website under “Insights/Supplements/Numerical Miraculousness”.
