Abjad Numerals Reference Encyclopedia: Arabic Letter Values, History, and Tables

Abjad numerals are a historical Arabic letter-number system. In this system, each Arabic letter has a fixed numerical value. The system is also known as Hisab al-Jummal, which means calculating numbers through letters.

This guide explains Abjad numerals as a historical, linguistic, and manuscript-based numbering system. It covers the Arabic letter values, the Eastern and Western Abjad tables, the difference between Mashriqi and Maghribi values, how Abjad calculation works, and where Abjad numerals appear in manuscripts, chronograms, printed books, and traditional scholarship.

For a simple lookup table, see the Abjad letter values table. To calculate a word or name, use the Abjad calculator. For detailed technical handling of hamza, ta marbuta, shadda, diacritics, and non-Arabic letters, see Abjad calculation rules.

Quick Answer: What Are Abjad Numerals?

Abjad numerals are Arabic letters used as numbers.

In the standard Eastern system:

Arabic Letter	Name	Value
ا	Alif	1
ب	Ba	2
ج	Jim	3
د	Dal	4

The word Abjad comes from these first four letters: ا ب ج د.

Unlike modern digits, Abjad numerals do not work by place value. Each letter keeps its value wherever it appears. A word, name, phrase, or date can be calculated by adding the values of its letters.

For example:

Letter	Value
م	40
ح	8
م	40
د	4
Total	92

So the Abjad value of محمد is 92 in the standard Eastern, or Mashriqi, system.

Abjad Numerals at a Glance

Topic	Summary
System type	Alphabetic letter-number system
Main Arabic term	Hisab al-Jummal
Basic method	Add the numerical values of letters
Main systems	Mashriqi and Maghribi
Common historical uses	Manuscripts, page numbering, tables, chronograms, inscriptions
Modern uses	Research, calligraphy, name calculation, digital tools, manuscript reading
Related systems	Hebrew gematria, Greek alphabetic numerals, Syriac numeral traditions
Important caution	Historical calculation should be separated from symbolic interpretation

Why This Page Exists

Many online pages explain Abjad through numerology only. That creates confusion because Abjad numerals are not only a symbolic or mystical practice. They are also a documented historical numbering system.

This page focuses on the reference side of Abjad:

Covered here	Not the main focus here
Arabic letter values	Personal predictions
Mashriqi and Maghribi tables	Compatibility readings
Historical manuscript use	Spiritual number meanings
Chronograms and inscriptions	Taweez interpretation
Calculation structure	Claims about fate or destiny

Symbolic and spiritual traditions exist, but this page treats Abjad first as a letter-number system used in Arabic, Persian, Ottoman, Islamic, and manuscript contexts.

Meaning of the Word Abjad

The word Abjad comes from the first four letters of the old Semitic letter order:

Order	Arabic	Transliteration	Value
1	ا	Alif	1
2	ب	Ba	2
3	ج	Jim	3
4	د	Dal	4

This is similar to how the word “alphabet” comes from alpha and beta.

Modern Arabic dictionaries usually arrange letters differently, based on letter shapes and related forms. The Abjad order preserves an older sequence. This older order is important because the numerical value of each letter follows that traditional sequence, not the modern dictionary order.

Other Names for Abjad Numerals

Abjad numerals are known by several names in Arabic and Islamic scholarly contexts.

Term	Meaning
Abjad numerals	Arabic letters used as numbers
Hisab al-Jummal	Calculation of letter totals
Hisab al-Jumal	Alternate spelling of Hisab al-Jummal
Hisab Abjad	Calculation by Abjad letters
Huruf al-Jummal	Letter totals
Abjad values	Numerical values assigned to letters

In modern English, “Abjad numerals” is usually the clearest term because it describes the system directly.

Complete Eastern Abjad Table

The Eastern system is commonly called Mashriqi Abjad. It is the most common table used in many modern Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and general Islamic studies contexts.

Value	Arabic Letter	Name	Simple Transliteration
1	ا	Alif	a
2	ب	Ba	b
3	ج	Jim	j
4	د	Dal	d
5	ه	Ha	h
6	و	Waw	w
7	ز	Zay	z
8	ح	Ha	h
9	ط	Ta	t
10	ي	Ya	y
20	ك	Kaf	k
30	ل	Lam	l
40	م	Mim	m
50	ن	Nun	n
60	س	Sin	s
70	ع	Ayn	ayn
80	ف	Fa	f
90	ص	Sad	s
100	ق	Qaf	q
200	ر	Ra	r
300	ش	Shin	sh
400	ت	Ta	t
500	ث	Tha	th
600	خ	Kha	kh
700	ذ	Dhal	dh
800	ض	Dad	d
900	ظ	Za	z
1000	غ	Ghayn	gh

For a cleaner table-only version, use the Abjad table.

Complete Western or Maghribi Abjad Table

The Western system is commonly called Maghribi Abjad. It appears in North African and Andalusian contexts. Many values are the same as the Eastern table, but some later letters have different values.

Value	Arabic Letter in Maghribi System	Name
1	ا	Alif
2	ب	Ba
3	ج	Jim
4	د	Dal
5	ه	Ha
6	و	Waw
7	ز	Zay
8	ح	Ha
9	ط	Ta
10	ي	Ya
20	ك	Kaf
30	ل	Lam
40	م	Mim
50	ن	Nun
60	ص	Sad
70	ع	Ayn
80	ف	Fa
90	ض	Dad
100	ق	Qaf
200	ر	Ra
300	س	Sin
400	ت	Ta
500	ث	Tha
600	خ	Kha
700	ذ	Dhal
800	ظ	Za
900	غ	Ghayn
1000	ش	Shin

Mashriqi vs Maghribi Abjad Values

The biggest practical difference between the Eastern and Western systems appears in six letters.

Letter	Mashriqi Value	Maghribi Value
س	60	300
ص	90	60
ش	300	1000
ض	800	90
ظ	900	800
غ	1000	900

This means the same Arabic word may produce two different totals depending on the system used.

For example, any word containing س, ص, ش, ض, ظ, or غ may change when calculated with Maghribi values instead of Mashriqi values.

That is why serious Abjad calculation should always state the method used.

How Abjad Numerals Work

Abjad numerals work by addition.

Each letter has a value. To calculate a word or phrase:

1. Write the Arabic spelling.
2. Choose the Abjad system.
3. Assign each letter its numerical value.
4. Add the values.
5. State the final total and method.

Example:

علم

Letter	Name	Value
ع	Ayn	70
ل	Lam	30
م	Mim	40
Total		140

So the Abjad value of علم is 140 in the Mashriqi system.

Abjad Is Additive, Not Positional

Modern numbers use place value. In the number 652, the 6 means six hundreds because of its position.

Abjad does not work that way. Each letter keeps its value.

For example:

Letter	Value
خ	600
ن	50
ب	2

Together, these letters can represent 652, but the system is still based on letter values, not digit positions.

This is one of the most important differences between Abjad numerals and modern Arabic or Western digits.

Abjad Numerals vs Arabic Numerals

The term “Arabic numerals” can confuse readers because it is used in more than one way.

System	Example	Meaning
Abjad numerals	ا = 1, ب = 2	Arabic letters used as numbers
Eastern Arabic digits	١، ٢، ٣	Digits used in Arabic-script regions
Western Arabic digits	1, 2, 3	Digits used globally today

Abjad numerals are letters. Arabic digits are number symbols. They are related to the history of numbering, but they are not the same system.

Does Abjad Have Zero?

Traditional Abjad calculation does not use zero the same way modern positional numerals do.

In modern numbers, zero is essential because it helps define place value. For example, 105 is different from 15 because the zero marks an empty tens place.

Abjad numerals do not need that kind of zero because they are additive. A value is built from letters, not from digit positions.

Historical Development of Abjad Numerals

Abjad numerals belong to the wider family of alphabetic numeral systems. In these systems, letters serve both as writing signs and number signs.

Similar letter-number systems appear in Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, and other older traditions. Arabic preserved an old Semitic letter order and adapted it to the Arabic alphabet.

Over time, Arabic script developed its modern letter order for reading and dictionary use. But the older Abjad order remained useful for numerical values.

This created two parallel ways of thinking about Arabic letters:

Use	Order
Dictionary and learning order	Modern Arabic alphabet order
Letter-number values	Abjad order

The Abjad order survived because it had practical value in calculation, manuscript organization, scholarly tables, poetic dating, and memorization.

Abjad Mnemonic Words

The Abjad sequence is often memorized through traditional word groups.

The common Eastern sequence is:

Group	Letters
Abjad	ا ب ج د
Hawwaz	ه و ز
Hutti	ح ط ي
Kalaman	ك ل م ن
Safas	س ع ف ص
Qarashat	ق ر ش ت
Thakhudh	ث خ ذ
Dazagh	ض ظ غ

These words are mnemonic groups. Their main purpose is to help students remember the older letter sequence and its numerical order.

Main Historical Uses of Abjad Numerals

Abjad numerals were used in several practical and literary contexts.

Use	Description
Manuscript foliation	Numbering leaves or sections in manuscripts
Quire numbering	Marking gatherings of manuscript pages
Printed book prefaces	Numbering front matter, similar to Roman numerals
Scientific tables	Writing numerical values in astronomical or mathematical tables
Chronograms	Encoding dates through words or phrases
Inscriptions	Recording construction or restoration dates
Poetry	Hiding dates in poetic lines
Names and phrases	Calculating the total value of words

This broad range of uses is why Abjad should be treated as a historical numbering system, not only as a numerology topic.

Abjad Numerals in Manuscripts

Arabic, Persian, Ottoman, and Islamic manuscripts may use Abjad letters for page numbering, foliation, section labels, and tables.

For manuscript readers, this matters because a mark that looks like a letter may actually be a number.

Example:

Mark	Possible Number
ا	1
ب	2
ج	3
ك	20
ق	100

A cataloger or researcher must know whether the mark is part of the text or part of the manuscript’s numbering system.

Abjad numbering can also appear beside later pencil numbering or modern cataloging marks. This can create confusion when different numbering systems appear on the same manuscript.

Abjad Numerals in Printed Books

Some Arabic printed books use Abjad letters for introductory pages.

This is similar to the way English books may use Roman numerals such as i, ii, iii, and iv for the preface before switching to regular numbers in the main body.

In this use, Abjad is mainly practical. It helps separate the front matter from the main text.

Abjad Numerals in Scientific Texts

Abjad numerals also appear in scientific and mathematical material.

In older Arabic scientific manuscripts, letters could be used to represent numbers in tables, examples, astronomical data, calculations, or mathematical expressions.

This matters for researchers working on:

Field	Why Abjad Matters
History of science	Older tables may use letter values
Mathematics	Numerical terms may appear as meaningful words
Astronomy	Tables may include letter-number notation
Manuscript OCR	Software must detect when letters behave as numbers
Digital humanities	Abjad recognition helps convert texts into searchable data

A modern reader may miss a numerical meaning if they read every Abjad form only as a normal word.

Abjad Chronograms

A chronogram is a word, phrase, or poetic line whose letter values add up to a date.

Chronograms appear in Arabic, Persian, Ottoman, and Islamic literary culture. They are especially important in poetry, inscriptions, book completion notes, and building dates.

For example, a phrase may be chosen because its letters add up to a Hijri year.

This makes Abjad useful for historians, epigraphers, manuscript specialists, and readers of old inscriptions.

Abjad in Architecture and Inscriptions

In some historical buildings, inscriptions may include a phrase or verse that encodes a construction date.

This is not the same as writing the date directly. The date is hidden inside the total value of the letters.

A researcher studying such an inscription must:

1. Read the Arabic phrase correctly.
2. Choose the correct Abjad system.
3. Add the letter values.
4. Compare the result with the historical context.
5. Check whether the date is Hijri or Gregorian.
6. Verify the reading with the building, inscription, or manuscript source.

Chronograms are powerful, but they must be handled carefully. A damaged letter, variant spelling, or wrong system can change the final date.

Abjad and Names

Names can also be calculated by adding the values of their Arabic letters.

For example:

محمد

Letter	Value
م	40
ح	8
م	40
د	4
Total	92

A name page should always show the Arabic spelling used for calculation. Different spellings can produce different values.

For name-based pages, users can browse the names section or calculate a spelling with the Abjad calculator.

Why Spelling Matters in Abjad Calculation

Abjad calculation depends on the written Arabic letters.

Small spelling differences may change the total.

For example, the following issues can affect the result:

Issue	Why It Matters
Hamza	May be counted differently depending on method
Ta marbuta	May be treated as ha or ta depending on tradition
Shadda	May be ignored or counted as doubling
Diacritics	Usually ignored in simple calculation
Persian letters	Often mapped to nearest Arabic base letters
Maghribi system	Six letters differ from the Mashriqi system

For full technical rules, use the Abjad calculation rules page.

Calculation Example: Allah

The Arabic word الله is commonly calculated as:

Letter	Name	Value
ا	Alif	1
ل	Lam	30
ل	Lam	30
ه	Ha	5
Total		66

So الله has an Abjad value of 66 in the standard Mashriqi method.

This is a numerical calculation based on spelling. Any interpretation beyond the number belongs to religious, symbolic, or spiritual discussion and should be treated separately from the calculation itself.

Calculation Example: Muhammad

The Arabic name محمد is calculated as:

Letter	Name	Value
م	Mim	40
ح	Ha	8
م	Mim	40
د	Dal	4
Total		92

So محمد has an Abjad value of 92 in the Mashriqi system.

This kind of breakdown is useful because it shows the exact letters and values used.

Calculation Example: Abjad

The word ابجد is calculated as:

Letter	Name	Value
ا	Alif	1
ب	Ba	2
ج	Jim	3
د	Dal	4
Total		10

This simple example shows why the first four letters gave the system its name.

Abjad for Non-Arabic Speakers

Non-Arabic speakers often struggle with Abjad because Arabic letters can look similar, and several letters are represented by similar English spellings.

For example:

Arabic Letter	Common Issue
ه	Often written as h
ح	Also written as h, but it is a different letter
ت	Written as t
ط	Also written as t, but it is a different letter
س	Written as s
ص	Also written as s, but it has a different value

This is why transliteration alone is not enough. Accurate Abjad calculation should use the Arabic spelling.

For beginner support, see Abjad for non-Arabic speakers.

Abjad and Persian or Urdu Letters

Arabic has 28 letters. Persian and Urdu use additional letters, such as:

Letter	Common Mapping
پ	ب
چ	ج
ژ	ز
گ	ك

These added letters do not always have independent classical Abjad values. Many methods map them to the closest Arabic base letter.

A serious calculator should explain how it handles these letters. For the calculation method used on this site, see the methodology page.

Abjad and Numerology

Abjad values have been used in symbolic, spiritual, literary, and mystical traditions. That historical fact should be acknowledged carefully.

However, symbolic interpretation is not the same as basic Abjad calculation.

Type	What It Means
Calculation	Adding letter values
Manuscript numbering	Practical numbering system
Chronogram	Date encoded in a word or phrase
Symbolic reading	Cultural or spiritual interpretation
Prediction claim	Not proven by the calculation itself

The number is verifiable from the letters. The meaning attached to the number depends on tradition, interpretation, and belief.

This page focuses on the verifiable system.

Common Mistakes in Abjad Calculation

Many errors happen because users mix systems or spellings.

Mistake	Problem
Using English spelling	Abjad is based on Arabic letters, not English letters
Mixing Mashriqi and Maghribi values	The result may change
Ignoring spelling variants	Different Arabic spellings may produce different totals
Counting diacritics as letters	Most simple methods ignore diacritics
Treating every result as mystical	The number alone is just a calculation
Not stating the method	Other readers cannot verify the result

A reliable Abjad result should always show the letter breakdown, total value, and calculation method.

How to Verify an Abjad Result

To verify an Abjad value, use this checklist:

Step	Check
1	Is the Arabic spelling shown?
2	Is the system identified as Mashriqi or Maghribi?
3	Are all letters listed one by one?
4	Is the total shown as a formula?
5	Are special letters handled clearly?
6	Are symbolic claims separated from calculation?

For fast checking, use the Abjad calculator. For a detailed explanation of tool use, see the Abjad calculator complete guide.

Abjad in Modern Use

Today, Abjad numerals are not the normal way to write everyday numbers. Modern Arabic digits and Western digits are used instead.

Still, Abjad remains useful in several areas:

Modern Use	Why It Matters
Manuscript studies	Helps decode foliation and notes
Calligraphy	Connects letters with traditional values
Historical research	Helps interpret dates and inscriptions
Digital humanities	Supports recognition of older numerical notation
Name studies	Shows letter-by-letter values
Educational tools	Helps learners understand Arabic letter order
Cultural research	Explains symbolic uses without confusing them with proof

For broader current examples, see modern Abjad applications.

Abjad Numerals and Quranic Texts

Some readers study Abjad values in relation to Quranic words or verses. This topic requires care.

From a reference point of view, the first step is always the same: identify the Arabic spelling and calculate the letters correctly.

Interpretation is a separate matter. It should not be presented as a mathematical proof unless it is clearly framed as cultural, religious, symbolic, or traditional interpretation.

For a separate discussion of this topic, see Abjad in Quranic verse analysis.

How This Site Handles Abjad Content

This site separates Abjad content into different page types.

Page Type	Purpose
Reference pages	Explain the system, history, and tables
Calculator pages	Help users calculate words and names
Methodology pages	Explain rules and limitations
Name pages	Show Arabic spelling, meaning, and Abjad value
Spiritual pages	Discuss symbolic traditions separately
Resource pages	Collect sources and supporting material

This separation helps avoid mixing basic calculation with interpretation.

For all tools, visit the tools hub. For source material and further reading, visit resources.

Best Practice for Citing Abjad Values

When citing an Abjad value in writing, use a clear format.

Example:

The Abjad value of محمد is 92 using the Mashriqi method: م 40 + ح 8 + م 40 + د 4 = 92.

This format is better than simply writing:

Muhammad equals 92.

The first version is verifiable. The second version is incomplete.

Best Practice for Historical Abjad Research

For historical research, do not rely only on an online calculator.

Use this process:

1. Check the manuscript or inscription image.
2. Confirm the Arabic spelling.
3. Identify the region and period.
4. Decide whether Mashriqi or Maghribi values are likely.
5. Calculate the letters.
6. Compare with catalog notes or published research.
7. Treat uncertain readings as uncertain.

This matters because historical material often contains damaged letters, spelling variants, scribal marks, or later additions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Abjad numerals?

Abjad numerals are Arabic letters used as numbers. Each letter has a fixed value, and words or phrases can be calculated by adding the values of their letters.

What is Hisab al-Jummal?

Hisab al-Jummal is the calculation of letter values. It is another name for the Abjad letter-number system.

What is the Abjad value of Allah?

The Abjad value of الله is commonly calculated as 66 in the Mashriqi system: ا 1 + ل 30 + ل 30 + ه 5 = 66.

What is the Abjad value of Muhammad?

The Abjad value of محمد is 92 in the Mashriqi system: م 40 + ح 8 + م 40 + د 4 = 92.

What is the difference between Mashriqi and Maghribi Abjad?

Mashriqi is the Eastern Abjad system. Maghribi is the Western Abjad system. Most values are the same, but six letters differ: س, ص, ش, ض, ظ, and غ.

Is Abjad the same as gematria?

No. Abjad is the Arabic letter-number system. Gematria is usually associated with Hebrew letter-number calculation. They are related as alphabetic numeral systems, but they are not the same tradition.

Does Abjad use zero?

Traditional Abjad calculation does not use zero as a place-value digit. It works by adding fixed letter values.

Are Abjad numerals still used today?

They are not commonly used for everyday numbering, but they are still used in research, manuscript studies, calligraphy, name calculation, cultural study, and educational tools.

Which Abjad table should I use?

Use the Mashriqi table for most general Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Islamic studies calculations unless your source clearly belongs to the Maghribi or Andalusian tradition.

Can English names be calculated in Abjad?

Not directly. Abjad is based on Arabic letters. An English name must first be written or transliterated into Arabic, and different Arabic spellings can produce different totals.

Why do two Abjad calculators give different results?

Different calculators may use different rules for hamza, ta marbuta, shadda, Persian letters, Urdu letters, or the Mashriqi and Maghribi systems.

Is Abjad numerology?

Abjad is a historical letter-number system. Some traditions use it symbolically or spiritually, but the calculation itself is simply the addition of letter values.

Conclusion

Abjad numerals are a historical Arabic letter-number system based on the older Semitic letter order. Each Arabic letter has a fixed value, beginning with alif = 1, ba = 2, jim = 3, and dal = 4.

The two main systems are Mashriqi and Maghribi. They share most values but differ in six important letters. Because of this, any accurate Abjad calculation should state the Arabic spelling, the method used, and the letter-by-letter breakdown.

Abjad numerals are important for manuscripts, printed book prefaces, chronograms, inscriptions, scientific tables, calligraphy, name studies, and cultural history. They should be understood first as a documented historical numbering system. Symbolic interpretation may exist in some traditions, but it should be kept separate from the basic calculation.

For the main letter table, visit the Abjad table. To calculate a word or name, use the Abjad calculator. To understand detailed calculation choices, read Abjad calculation rules.

Sources and Further Reading

• Georg Krotkoff, “ABJAD,” Encyclopaedia Iranica.
• National Library of Medicine, Islamic Medical Manuscripts Glossary.
• Middle East Librarians Association, Arabic Cataloging Manual, Abjad Table.
• Johannes Thomann, “Scientific and Archaic Arabic Numerals: Origins, Usages and Scribal Traditions of the Two Abjad Systems.”
• R. H. Miqdadi, “Abjad Numerals as an Absolute Dating Method: Forts from Al-Ain, UAE.”
• H. M. Djamel and N. Bensaou, “Abjad Numerals Recognition in Medieval Arabic Mathematical Texts.”