that is expressed by the term "word" and that the term "letter" is specifically used for what conveys a meaning that is neither a noun nor a verb, like prepositions and similar particles. As for the terms of the alphabet letters, sometimes "letter" refers to the letter itself from the expression, and sometimes to the name of that letter. And when this terminology became prevalent, those accustomed to it began to mistakenly believe that it was the same in the language of the Arabs. Among them are those who consider the term "word" in the language to be a shared term between, for example, a noun and a sentence, and do not recognize in the explicit language the term "word" except for a complete sentence. The intended meaning here is that what is prescribed in the remembrance of Allāh, glorified be He, is to remember Him with a complete sentence, which is what is called "speech," and a single one of it is called a "word." This is what benefits the hearts and brings about reward and recompense, and draws the hearts to Allāh, His knowledge, love, and fear, and other high aspirations and noble purposes. As for limiting oneself to a single noun, whether expressed or implied, there is no basis for it, let alone it being part of the remembrance of the elite and the knowledgeable. Rather, it is a means to various types of innovations and misguidances, and a pretext to corrupt imaginations and states from the conditions of the heretics and the unionists. As has been elaborated upon in another context
بالحرف يُسمى كلمة وَأَن لفظ الْحَرْف يخص لما جَاءَ لِمَعْنى لَيْسَ باسم وَلَا فعل كحروف الْجَرّ وَنَحْوهَا. وَأما أَلْفَاظ حُرُوف الهجاء فيعبر تَارَة بالحرف عَن نفس الْحَرْف من اللَّفْظ وَتارَة باسم ذَلِك الْحَرْف. وَلما غلب هَذَا الِاصْطِلَاح صَار يتَوَهَّم من اعتاده أَنه هَكَذَا فِي لُغَة الْعَرَب. ومنم من يَجْعَل لفظ الْكَلِمَة فِي اللُّغَة لفظا مُشْتَركا بَين الِاسْم مثلا وَبَين الْجُمْلَة وَلَا يعرف فِي صَرِيح اللُّغَة من لفظ (الْكَلِمَة) إِلَّا الْجُمْلَة التَّامَّة. وَالْمَقْصُود هُنَا أَن الْمَشْرُوع فِي ذكر الله سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ ذكره بجملة تَامَّة وَهُوَ الْمُسَمّى بالْكلَام وَالْوَاحد مِنْهُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ. وَهُوَ الَّذِي ينفع الْقُلُوب وَيحصل بِهِ الثَّوَاب وَالْأَجْر ويجذب الْقُلُوب إِلَى الله ومعرفته ومحبته وخشيته وَغير ذَلِك من المطالب الْعَالِيَة والمقاصد السامية. وَأما الِاقْتِصَار على الِاسْم الْمُفْرد مظْهرا أَو مضمرا فَلَا أصل لَهُ فضلا عَن أَن يكون من ذكر الْخَاصَّة والعارفين. بل هُوَ وَسِيلَة إِلَى أَنْوَاع من الْبدع والضلالات وذريعة إِلَى تصورات وأحوال فَاسِدَة من أَحْوَال أهل الْإِلْحَاد وَأهل الِاتِّحَاد. كَمَا قد بسط الْكَلَام عَلَيْهِ فِي غير هَذَا الْموضع.