The Letter Dal (د): Abjad Value 4, the Door & the Path

⚡ Quick Answer

The Abjad value of Dal (د) is 4, the fourth letter of the Abjad. Dal is a non-joining sun letter, paired in shape with Dhal, and it opens words of religion and prayer such as Din (religion), Dua (supplication), and Dunya (world).

A note on method. This page reports arithmetic only: an Abjad value is the sum of a word’s letters under a stated table. Any theme below is a point of language and tradition, not a claim that a number holds hidden power or an Islamic ruling. Symbolic readings are labelled as such.
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📋 Table of Contents

Dal is the fourth letter of the Abjad. Its very name comes from the old word for a door, and it opens words about religion, prayer, and the path a person walks.

What Is the Arabic Letter Dal (د)?

Dal is the fourth letter in the Abjad order and a sun letter. It is a small hook with no dot, one of the letters that does not join to the letter after it.

Dal forms a pair with ذ (Dhal): the two share the same shape, and only a single dot above turns Dal into Dhal.

Quick Facts About Dal
  • Abjad Position: 4th, value 4
  • Modern Alphabet Position: 8th
  • Type: a sun letter (huruf shamsiyya)
  • Origin: the Phoenician Daleth, meaning “door”, ancestor of Hebrew Dalet and Greek Delta
  • Dots: none
  • Joining: non-joining; connects to the letter before, not after (two forms)
  • Opens: Din (religion), Dua (supplication), Dunya (world)

What Is the Abjad Value of Dal?

In the Abjad system the value of Dal is 4. It follows Jeem (3) and keeps its value in any position.

Dal is 4 in both the Mashriqi and Maghribi systems. See the Abjad Calculation Rules, or add any word in the Abjad Calculator.

SystemDal valueNote
Mashriqi (Eastern / Standard)4Used across the Arab world and South Asia
Maghribi (Western)4Used in North Africa; unchanged for Dal

Dal: The Door and the Path

The name Dal traces back to the Phoenician Daleth, “door.” In Arabic the letter opens words about religion and the path: دين (din, religion), دعاء (dua, supplication), and دنيا (dunya, the world). These are matters of vocabulary, not of the number 4.

It also begins دليل (dalil, a guide or proof), a word built on the same root as the letter’s name.

Words of Religion and the Path

WordMeaningAbjad value
دينDin, religion64
دعاءDua, supplication76
دنياDunya, the world65
دليلDalil, guide / proof74

Names That Contain Dal

Dal appears in several well-known names. The totals below are plain letter sums, for study only.

Prophets and Companions

NameWho they wereAbjad value
داودDawud (David), a prophet and king15

Other Names

NameMeaningAbjad value
راشدRashid, “rightly guided”505
سعدSaad, “felicity”134

Everyday Words That Contain Dal

Dal is common across everyday Arabic. Here are a few familiar words.

WordMeaningAbjad value
دارHouse, abode (dar)205
درسLesson (dars)264
بلدTown, country (balad)36

How to Write Dal (د)

Dal is a non-joining letter: it connects to the letter before it but never to the one that follows, so it has only two forms and often leaves a small gap after it.

PositionFormExampleTransliteration
Isolated / InitialددينDin (religion)
Medial / FinalـدبلدBalad (town)

Dal and Dhal

Dal and ذ (Dhal) are a matched pair. A single dot above turns Dal (4) into Dhal (700), a large jump in value from one small dot.

اردو میں حرف د (د)

حرف د ابجد کا چوتھا حرف ہے اور اس کا عدد (adad) 4 ہے۔ یہ ایک شمسی حرف ہے اور اپنے بعد والے حرف سے نہیں ملتا۔

یہ حرف دین، دعا اور دنیا جیسے الفاظ کی بنیاد ہے۔ د اور ذ ایک جوڑا ہیں: صرف ایک نقطہ د کو ذ بنا دیتا ہے۔

یہ عدد صرف حساب اور تعلیم کے لیے ہے۔ کسی مذہبی مسئلے کے لیے مستند عالم سے رجوع کریں۔

Dal Across Ancient Alphabets

Dal carries the value of the fourth letter in the older alphabets. It descends from the Phoenician Daleth, “door,” which gave 4 to Hebrew Dalet and Greek Delta.

TraditionLetterValueNote
Arabic Abjadد4Dal, the fourth letter
Hebrew Gematriaד4Dalet, also the fourth and also 4
Phoenician𐤃n/aDaleth, the original “door” symbol
GreekΔ (Delta)4Greek Delta is also 4

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Abjad value of Dal?

The letter Dal (د) has an Abjad value of 4 in both the Mashriqi and Maghribi systems. It is the fourth letter in the Abjad order.

Does Dal join to other letters?

Dal joins to the letter before it but never to the one after it, so it has only two forms and often leaves a small gap after it in a word.

What is the difference between Dal and Dhal?

Dal (د) has no dot and is worth 4. Adding one dot above makes Dhal (ذ), which is worth 700. The shape is shared; only the dot and value differ.

Is Dal a sun letter or a moon letter?

Dal is a sun letter (huruf shamsiyya), so the lam of the article al- assimilates into it, as in ad-din rather than al-din.

What is the Abjad value of Din?

The word Din (دين), meaning religion, has an Abjad value of 64: Dal 4, Ya 10, Noon 50.

Which prophet’s name begins with Dal?

Dawud (داود), the prophet David, begins with Dal and totals 15 in the Abjad.

Does Dal change value in the Maghribi system?

No. Dal is 4 in both the Eastern and Western systems.

Is the Abjad value of Dal a prediction?

No. It is a fixed number used to add letters, with no predictive or hidden meaning.

✓ Key Takeaways

  • Dal (د) has an Abjad value of 4, the fourth value in the table
  • It is a non-joining sun letter with no dots and two forms
  • Dal pairs with Dhal (ذ); one dot changes 4 into 700
  • Its name comes from Daleth, “door,” and it opens Din, Dua, Dunya
  • The prophet Dawud (15) begins with Dal
  • Dal, Hebrew Dalet, and Greek Delta all descend from “door” and all equal 4
  • The value is plain arithmetic, for study and reference only

Sources & Further Reading

Reviewed by (Islamic Scholar & Mentor)  ·  Last Updated: September 1, 2026