When most people think of “Arabic numerals,” they think of the digits 0-9 used across the Western world. What many do not realise is that these — known technically as Hindu-Arabic numerals — are not the numerals used in the Arab world itself. The Arabic-speaking world primarily uses a different set of digits, called Eastern Arabic numerals, which look quite different from the familiar 0-9.
For a Muslim child learning Quran and Arabic, Eastern Arabic numerals are essential: they appear in most printed copies of the Quran to mark verse numbers, they are used throughout the Arab world, and fluency with them is required for anyone who wants to navigate an Arabic text independently.
This guide explains what Eastern Arabic numerals are, why they matter for Muslim children, and how to teach them effectively.
What Eastern Arabic numerals look like
Eastern Arabic numerals are the ten digits used in Arabic script for the numbers 0 through 9. Here they are with their Western equivalents:
٠ = 0, ١ = 1, ٢ = 2, ٣ = 3, ٤ = 4, ٥ = 5, ٦ = 6, ٧ = 7, ٨ = 8, ٩ = 9
Like Arabic letters, numbers in Arabic are read from right to left within a sequence. However, multi-digit numbers read from left to right in value (hundreds, tens, units) — so 123 in Arabic numerals appears as ١٢٣ reading left to right in value, but within an Arabic text, the number sits in a right-to-left context.
Several of the Eastern Arabic digits resemble their Western counterparts in modified form, while others look quite different:
The Eastern Arabic 1 (١) is a vertical line, similar to the Western 1. The Eastern Arabic 4 (٤) resembles a backwards or rotated version of the Western 4. The Eastern Arabic 5 (٥) looks similar to a Western zero (0), which causes confusion for beginners. The Eastern Arabic 6 (٦) resembles a Western 7. The Eastern Arabic 7 (٧) resembles a Western V or checkmark. The Eastern Arabic 0 (٠) is a small dot, which can be confused with punctuation marks.
These differences mean that Eastern Arabic numerals cannot be guessed from Western numeral knowledge. They must be explicitly taught and practised.
Where Eastern Arabic numerals appear in Islamic contexts
For Muslim children, the primary places they will encounter Eastern Arabic numerals are:
Quranic verse numbers. Almost all standard Arabic Mushafs use Eastern Arabic numerals to mark the end of each verse (ayah). The small decorative marker at the end of each verse typically contains the verse number in Eastern Arabic numerals. A child learning to find specific verses by their number must be able to read these.
Surah numbers and page numbers. Many Quran editions also use Eastern Arabic numerals for the surah (chapter) number at the top of each page and for page numbers. Page-finding, surah navigation, and Juz marking all require numeral recognition.
Arabic books and educational materials. Any Arabic book, textbook, workbook, or printed material produced for the Arab world will use Eastern Arabic numerals for all numbers. A child learning Arabic beyond Quran recitation — working toward reading comprehension or written expression — will need these numerals throughout.
Dates in the Islamic calendar. Islamic calendar dates in Arabic media and correspondence use Eastern Arabic numerals. Understanding an Islamic date written in Arabic requires numeral knowledge.
Why teaching these alongside the Arabic alphabet makes sense
Many Arabic literacy programmes focus exclusively on the letters and leave numerals to be picked up incidentally. This is a missed opportunity. The Eastern Arabic numerals are a small set (ten digits) that can be learned completely and confidently in a matter of weeks with consistent practice — and learning them while learning the alphabet means the child develops a complete facility with the Arabic written system from the beginning.
A child who can read Arabic letters but cannot read Arabic numerals will find a Quran unexpectedly difficult to navigate: they cannot find a verse by number, cannot track what page they are on using the Arabic page numbers, and cannot understand the verse count marker at the end of each ayah. Teaching numerals alongside letters removes this gap entirely.
How to teach Eastern Arabic numerals
The teaching method for numerals mirrors the method for letters: recognition first, then active recall, then reading in context, then writing.
Begin with recognition. Start with the digits that are most visually distinctive and easiest to remember. 1 (١) and 2 (٢) and 3 (٣) are a good starting cluster, as they are relatively intuitive. Then move to the potentially confusing ones: 5 (٥, which looks like zero), 0 (٠, the dot), and 6 (٦, which looks like 7). Explicitly addressing potential confusions is more effective than discovering them through errors.
Flashcards are ideal. A set of numeral flashcards with the Eastern Arabic digit on one side and its value on the other allows drill practice, sorting games, and matching exercises. Physical flashcards have the same advantage over apps that they do for letter learning: the child handles them, sorts them, forms them with their body, and builds motor memory alongside visual recognition.
Connect to the Quran immediately. Once a child recognises the digits, open a Quran together and find verse numbers. “What verse is this?” “Can you find verse five?” Connecting the abstract digit to its real-world function in the Quran makes the learning meaningful immediately rather than at some hypothetical future point.
Teach counting and sequence. Children should be able to count from 1 to 10 (and beyond) in Eastern Arabic numerals before they have only memorised isolated digits. Recognising ٦ as 6 is not the same as understanding that 6 comes after 5 and before 7. Sequencing exercises — arranging numeral cards in order, filling in missing numbers — build numeral fluency rather than just recognition.
Include writing practice. Writing Eastern Arabic numerals with correct stroke direction consolidates recognition and is needed for any future Arabic writing. A child who can write the numerals as well as read them has the full skill.
What to avoid
A common mistake in early Arabic numeral teaching is introducing the digits in order (1, 2, 3...) without explicit attention to the ones that cause confusion. The digit 5 (٥) being mistaken for zero and the digit 0 (٠) being mistaken for a dot of punctuation are errors that persist if not directly addressed. Better to isolate these potentially confusing pairs early and make the distinctions explicit.
Another mistake is treating numeral learning as entirely separate from Quran learning. The Quran is the most motivating context possible for a Muslim child’s Arabic literacy. Using Quran navigation as a practical application of numeral learning — “now you can find any verse I name” — makes the skill feel both meaningful and achievable.
Timeframe and expectations
Most children can achieve confident recognition of all ten Eastern Arabic digits within four to six weeks of daily practice. Writing proficiency with all ten digits typically follows within another four weeks. This is a relatively small investment of time for a skill that will serve a Muslim child throughout their engagement with Arabic and the Quran.
Our Arabic Numbers collection includes numeral flashcards and learning materials designed specifically for this purpose — correct Eastern Arabic digit forms, calm and consistent design, and quality that communicates to the child that what they are learning is worth learning well.
A child who knows both the Arabic letters and the Arabic numerals has the full toolkit for navigating the Quran independently. That independence — the moment when a child can open the Mushaf, find the surah and verse they are looking for, and begin to read — is worth every minute it takes to build it.
