Major Arcana for Muslims Reference Chart
(c) Cheryl Lynne Bradley 2005| Key 0 | The Fool | Who save the foolish would forsake the religion of Abraham? Indeed he was our chosen servant in this world, and in the hereafter he shall dwell among the virtuous. When his Lord said to him, "Surrender yourself to Me!" he answered, "I have surrendered myself to the Lord of the worlds." -Qur'an, Al-Baqara, Surah 2:130-31 |
| Key I | The Magician | It was Allah who raised the heavens without visible supports, and then established His glory on the Throne. He compelled the sun and the moon to be of service, each running an appointed term; He ordains the course of all things. He made those revelations manifest, that you may be certain of meeting your Lord. -Qur'an, Ar-Ra'd, Surah 13:2 |
| Key II | The High Priestess | The Almighty Allah says: "For the righteous I have prepared that which no eyes have envisioned and no hearts conceived. Search all you want, no living soul shall ever perceive what ultimate bliss is concealed from them." -The Prophet Muhammad, as reported by Abu Hurairah |
| Key III | The Empress | We have ordained humankind to show kindness toward their parents, for in pain their mothers carry them and in pain do they give birth. In thirty months they bear and wean; thus when they attain maturity they may pray, "Lord, inspire us that we may be thankful for the blessings You bestowed upon us and our parents. Kindle within us the desire to do what is upright and pleasing to You. Grant us righteous offspring, Lord. Verily, we turn to You in repentance, surrendering ourselves in earnest." -Qur'an, Al-Ahqaf, Surah 46:15 |
| Key IV | The Emperor | Once the ego is overcome peace follows. "Only God and no living creature has the power to control destinies." With that conviction entrust all your cares to the Lord and follow the path of the Truth, conforming to the divine edicts, until you attain union with Him and become as pure as Adam before whom all creatures prostrated. -Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani" |
| Key V | The Hierophant | The Lord shall reward those who surrender their purpose to Him and remain steadfast, neither fear nor grief shall overcome them. -Qur'an, Al-Baqara, Surah 2:112 |
| Key VI | The Lovers | When reason reaches its peak and the souls of His lovers feel helpless and disabled, they grow restless and stretch their hands in supplication, seeking comfort for their burning souls. When every manner of search within their power has been consumed, the doorway to Him is opened. -Al-Hujwiri, "The Kashf al-Mahjub" |
| Key VII | The Chariot | Worship the Merciful, feed the hungry, and spread peace. You shall then enter Paradise in peace. -The Prophet Muhammad, as reported by Abd’Allah bin Amr |
| Key VIII | Strength | Wisdom and power follow endurance and patience. -The Prophet Muhammad, as reported by Abu Sayeed al-Khodri |
| Key IX | The Hermit | A person once asked the Prophet Muhammad to pray for him. So the Prophet implored, "O Allah, kindle within his heart the light of faith, and afford him with the courage to avert earthly wiles and submit himself before Your will." When a person turns away from the world, he adheres to God, and God lavishes incredible bounty on him. -Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani" |
| Key X | The Wheel of Fortune | On the day they meet their Lord, they shall be welcomed by the salutation "Peace!" An illustrious reward has been prepared for them. O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of good tidings and also to warn humankind and to invite them to Allah by His leave and guide them like the beacon that spreads light. Give the believers good tidings that a great bounty awaits them. -Qur'an, Al-Ahzab, Surah 33:44-47 |
| Key XI | Justice | O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well--acquainted with all that ye do. -Qur'an, An-Nisa, Surah 4:135 |
| Key XII | The Hanged Man | Every night during a certain hour the blessings of both this world and the next are bestowed upon those who seek. -The Prophet Muhammad, as reported by Ja'bir bin Abd'Allah |
| Key XIII | Death | All creatures on earth will pass away. But the face of your Lord will endure forever, in all majesty and glory. Which of the Lord’s blessings would you deny? All who dwell in the heavens and on the earth, look to God for help. Each day God engages himself on some new task. Which of the Lord’s blessings would you deny? -Qur'an, Ar-Rahman, Surah 55:26-30 |
| Key XIV | Temperance | Your pleas shall be answered, but wait patiently for the Lord to respond. Do not lose hope and begin to complain, "I beseeched the Lord, but He never responded." -The Prophet Muhammad, as reported by Sahih al-Bukhari |
| Key XV | The Devil | The faithful servants of the Beneficent walk upon the earth modestly, and when the ignorant address them, they say: "Peace!" They spend the night standing and prostrating before their Lord and say, "Lord, avert from us the doom of Hell, for its torment is everlasting. It is an evil resting place, a wretched abode indeed." -Qur'an, Al-Furqan, Surah 25:63-64 |
| Key XVI | The Tower | Say, "Who delivers you from the darkness of the land and the sea? You call upon Him humbly and in silent terror, beseeching Him in secret saying, 'Deliver us from this anguish and we will be truly grateful.'" -Qur'an, Al-An'am, Surah 6:63 |
| Key XVII | The Star | It is God who kindles the light of dawn. He has made the night for rest, and the sun and moon for reckoning the time. This is what God has ordained; he is supremely powerful, and knows all. -Qur'an, Al-An'am, Surah 6:96 |
| Key XVIII | The Moon | The bottom of the river is full of jewels. Take heed! Do not make the water turbid. The spirit of man is like the air: when dust surrounds it the sky is veiled. Notwithstanding such a state of darkness, God made visions to help you find the road to redemption. -Rumi, "Mathnawi" |
| Key XIX | The Sun | Humankind, you have received manifest proof from your Lord. A radiant light to dispel your darkness was sent down to you. Those who believe in their Lord and hold fast to Him shall be admitted to His grace and bounty. He will guide them to Himself by the straight path. -Qur'an, An-Nisa, Surah 4:175-176 |
| Key XX | Judgement | God has power to bring the dead back to life-and he will do so on the day of judgement, when every conscience will be searched. People will stand helpless; no one will be able to support them. -Qur'an, At-Tariq, Surah 86:8-10 |
| Key XXI | The World | Worship is like a work of art mastered only by the sincere, the learned scholars who practice what they know, who live and walk among people like everyone else, but in their hearts they seek freedom in the serenity of the wilderness. Because of this yearning they continue to grow until their spirits soar and become united with the numinous. About such God says, "Indeed they are the finest of human beings, cherished by us." -Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani" |
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This page was created November 23, 2005 and updated October 9, 2006.