Alongside Ilm-e-Jafar Akhbar, the second major branch of this tradition is known as "Ilm-e-Jafar Aasar." This method takes a different approach to spiritual analysis, relying on division rather than letter extraction. In this article, we explore what Ilm-e-Jafar Aasar is and how it works in detail.
Ilm-e-Jafar Aasar works by adding together the abjad values of the questioner's name, their mother's name, the day of the question, and the question itself. This combined total is then divided by a specific number — commonly 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, or 28 — and the remainder left after division forms the basis of the result.
First, the abjad value of the questioner's name is calculated, followed by the abjad value of their mother's name, the value assigned to the day of the week the question is asked, and finally the abjad value of the question itself. These four figures are added together to reach an overall total. This total is then divided by whichever specific number corresponds to the type of insight being sought, and the remainder — not the quotient — becomes the basis for interpretation.
Traditionally, the results are grouped into a few broad categories: complete harmony and favor, moderate and workable circumstances, temporary challenges that can be overcome with effort, and situations requiring greater patience and compromise. Each category carries its own distinct spiritual message and guidance.
If the division leaves a remainder of zero, what does that mean?
Each traditional interpretive table includes a specific meaning for a remainder of zero, generally associated with a final category or the completion of a full cycle.
Is it necessary to write a question for Aasar, or is the name alone sufficient?
Some divisions can produce a result based only on the name and day, but including a specific question typically produces a more precise and personally relevant result.
Can more than one division be used for the same matter?
Yes — in fact, using two or three different divisions to examine the same matter from different angles often provides a more complete and well-rounded picture.
The reasoning behind combining these four particular figures — name, mother's name, day, and question — reflects a broader traditional belief that a person's identity, origin, timing, and specific concern together shape the fullest possible picture of their situation. The mother's name is included because of its traditional association with a person's earliest spiritual identity, echoed in various hadith traditions referring to individuals by their mother's name in certain contexts. The day is included because different days of the week are traditionally associated with different planetary and spiritual influences, adding a temporal dimension the name alone cannot capture.
It may seem counterintuitive that the remainder — rather than the full quotient — carries the interpretive weight in this system, but this reflects a specific traditional logic. The remainder represents what is "left over" after a complete cycle of division, symbolically pointing to the unique, individual quality of a person's specific situation once broader patterns are accounted for. This is somewhat analogous to how a clock uses the remainder after dividing by twelve to indicate the hour, regardless of how many full twelve-hour cycles have already passed — the remainder captures the meaningful, situational detail.
Suppose a questioner's name yields an abjad value of 121, their mother's name yields 95, the day (say, Thursday) is traditionally valued at 75, and the question itself yields 158. Adding these together gives a total of 449. If this total is divided by 4, the quotient is 112 with a remainder of 1. This remainder of 1 would then be looked up in the traditional interpretive table for division by 4, yielding a specific insight into the nature of the matter at hand.
Why is the mother's name specifically used rather than the father's name?
Traditional practice draws on the mother's name due to its association with a person's earliest identity and certain hadith traditions, though some regional variations do incorporate the father's name as an additional or alternative figure.
Does the day of the week refer to the actual day the question is asked, or a fixed reference?
It refers to the actual day the question is being asked, since each day carries its own traditional numeric value used in the calculation.
New users often ask which of the two major branches — Akhbar or Aasar — they should use for a particular concern. As a general rule, if a clear, direct answer is needed (such as a yes-or-no type question), Akhbar tends to be more suitable. But if the goal is to understand a matter from multiple angles — its nature, severity, timing, and likely outcome — the various divisions within Aasar provide a more comprehensive picture. Many experienced users combine both approaches, using Akhbar for a direct answer and Aasar for deeper contextual understanding.
Each specific divisor within Aasar is designed to answer a different kind of question. Dividing by 4 reveals the fundamental nature of a problem; by 3, the stage a matter has reached; by 5, its severity; by 6, the likelihood of receiving help; by 7, a relevant day or time; by 8, the direction of one's fortune; by 9, one's spiritual state; by 10, the outcome of effort; by 12, the general character of a situation; and by 28 — corresponding to the full Arabic alphabet — the most detailed and comprehensive analysis available. Together, these divisions form a complete toolkit for examining nearly any life situation from a traditional spiritual lens.
Because the underlying calculation relies on fixed abjad values, the same name, mother's name, and day will always produce the same base numbers — only the question itself varies from one calculation to the next. This means that repeated use of Aasar for genuinely different questions can offer a consistent, evolving picture of a person's circumstances over time, rather than a single isolated snapshot.
For a first-time user, a good starting point is often the division by 4, since it offers a broad and easily understood introduction to the nature of a problem before moving on to the more specialized, detailed divisions that explore severity, timing, or eventual outcome in greater depth. This gentle, layered introduction helps new users build genuine familiarity with the system before attempting its more nuanced applications.
Ilm-e-Jafar Aasar is a structured and detailed method that combines a name, mother's name, day, and question to help understand different dimensions of a problem through various division techniques. Each division serves its own specific purpose and scope. This method is especially useful for those who want to understand their situation from more than one angle, while always remembering that the final decision and outcome rest with Allah alone, who alone truly knows what tomorrow holds and what is ultimately best for each of us.