One of the greatest challenges in writing about the Kitab Bayan Alif is authorship. Many mystical texts from the 13th to 15th centuries were attributed pseudonymously to revered figures to escape orthodox persecution or to lend weight to esoteric ideas.

) through the depths of Islamic mysticism. Major themes include: The Mystery of the Alif : In Sufi metaphysics, the letter often symbolizes the Oneness of God (