Keys open more than locks, and the Arabic word miftah lays bare the multifaceted symbolism associated with this small, toothy bit of metal. A tool of access, it also holds clues to mysteries and music. It is the path to higher knowledge and success, as well as a name for the divine.
Miftah is ingrained in everyday speech, whether referring to the key to understanding or miftah al-fahm; the key to success, miftah al najah; or the key to happiness, miftah al saada.
Aphorisms, meanwhile, include: alsidq miftah alnajat, or honesty is the key to salvation. When wanting to imply your trust in those around you is limited, you could say: miftah al bayt laysa fi yad kula had – the key to the house isn’t in everyone’s possession.
Miftah is frequently used in musical contexts. Much like in English, a musical key is a miftah. A keyboard is lawhat mafateeh. A clue to a mystery, or lughz, is also a miftah. A skeleton key that opens all doors is a miftah aam or miftah haikali. Miftah alishaal is an ignition key. Miftah almadina is the key to the city. Miftah al-qalb is the key to the heart. Mitah al-sir is the key to a secret.
Miftah comes from a root that means opening, or fatih.
One of God’s 99 names, Al Fattah, also shares a root with miftah and means the Revealer or the Opener, referring to the doors of blessings and mercy. The first chapter of the Quran is known as Al Fatiha, meaning The Opening.
In some historical contexts, fatih also referred to conquests or victories. Elongating the “a” of the word fatih can make it signify conqueror. Ottoman sultan Mehmed II earned this epithet after conquering Constantinople in 1453, becoming known as Mehmed El Fatih, or Mehmed the Conqueror.
Miftah's root also expands to several other idioms and sayings. When someone seems to be moving from one success to another, you could say: futiha lahu al-abwab, or the doors opened for him. Another way to say that would be futihat alayhi al-dunya, or the world opened up for him.
