The numbers from 1 to 10

The numbers from 0 to 10, with the digits used in many Arab countries and in the mushaf:

٠ صِفْرٌ (ṣifr): 0 ١ وَاحِدٌ (waaḥid): 1 ٢ اِثْنَانِ (ithnaan): 2 ٣ ثَلَاثَةٌ (thalaatha): 3 ٤ أَرْبَعَةٌ (arba'a): 4 ٥ خَمْسَةٌ (khamsa): 5 ٦ سِتَّةٌ (sitta): 6 ٧ سَبْعَةٌ (sab'a): 7 ٨ ثَمَانِيَةٌ (thamaaniya): 8 ٩ تِسْعَةٌ (tis'a): 9 ١٠ عَشَرَةٌ ('ashara): 10

Two useful notes: • Words are written from right to left, but numbers in digits are read from left to right, as in English: ١٠ = 10, ٢٥ = 25. • The verse numbers in the mushaf are written with these digits: you can now read them.

The digits we use in English (0, 1, 2, 3…) are also called "Arabic numerals": they came to Europe through the Muslim world. In North Africa, these are in fact the digits most often used.

To go further, later: in Arabic, the numbers from 3 to 10 change form depending on whether the counted thing is masculine or feminine. For now, remember the form above, which is used for counting.

Stating your age simply: عُمْرِي عَشَرَةُ أَعْوَامٍ ('umrii 'asharatu a'waam): I am ten years old. For an adult: عُمْرِي ثَلَاثُونَ سَنَةً ('umrii thalaathuuna sana): I am thirty.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Why are numbers read from left to right when the writing goes from right to left? Because digits follow the same layout everywhere: units on the right, tens to their left, and so on. So you read the leftmost digit first, as in English. The digits ١ ٢ ٣ of the Mashriq and the digits 1 2 3 of North Africa and Europe share a common origin in India; scholars of the Muslim world such as al-Khwarizmi made them known, and his name gave us the word "algorithm".

Watch out for digits that look like ours but have a different value: ٠ (zero) is a simple dot; ٥ (five) looks like our zero; ٦ (six) slightly resembles our 7; ٧ (seven) and ٨ (eight) look like a V and an upside-down V. These are the most common confusions at the start.

Numbers have their place in the Qur'an: Allah made the sun and the moon "so that you may know the number of years and the reckoning" (meaning of verse 10:5). And in the mushaf, the verse numbers now let you find a reference such as 2:255.

The gender rule for the numbers 3 to 10 is known for being unusual: with a masculine noun you use the form with ـَةٌ; with a feminine noun, the form without ـَةٌ (ثَلَاثَةُ أَوْلَادٍ, three boys; ثَلَاثُ بَنَاتٍ, three girls). You do not need to master it now; knowing it exists keeps you from being surprised.

Common mistakes: reading ٥ as 0; mixing up ٢ and ٣; saying ثَلَاثَة with s sounds instead of th; dropping the ع of أَرْبَعَة and سَبْعَة.

Lessons to draw • Read the verse numbers every time you open the mushaf. • Count in Arabic in daily life: stairs, objects, dhikr after the prayer. • Review look-alike digits side by side. • Move in small, regular steps: the deeds most loved by Allah are the most consistent, even if small (Bukhari 6464, Muslim 783).

Key points • ١ وَاحِدٌ … ١٠ عَشَرَةٌ; ٠ is a dot, ٥ means 5. • Numbers in digits are read from left to right. • From 3 to 10, the form of the number depends on the gender of the counted noun (for later).

The main message Reading numbers in Arabic lets you find your way in the mushaf and in daily life: a simple skill you will use all the time.