The most useful Ilm-ul-Adad books fall into three groups. They are short reference entries, histories of numbers and Urdu chronogram books (tarikh goi). This list covers eleven, and seven are free to read legally online.
How We Chose These Books
Each book had to explain letter values, numerals or chronograms in a way a reader can check. It also needed a named author or publisher and a legal way to read it.
Books that only promise predictions, lucky numbers or match-making are not on this list. They do not teach the system, and their claims cannot be checked.
Which Reference Entries Should You Read First?
Start with a short encyclopedia entry. It gives you the facts in one sitting, written by a specialist.
“Abjad,” Encyclopaedia Iranica
Georg Krotkoff wrote this entry, published in 1982. It is short, scholarly and free to read on the Encyclopaedia Iranica website.
“Abdjad,” Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition
This standard reference work from the publisher Brill has a short entry on the abjad. Most university libraries give their readers online access to it.
Which Books Explain the History of Numbers?
These books place letter numerals inside the wider story of counting. They explain what came before digits and how digits spread.
The Hindu-Arabic Numerals (1911)
David Eugene Smith and Louis Charles Karpinski trace how Indian digits reached the Arabic-speaking world and then Europe. The book is in the public domain and free on Project Gutenberg.
Number Words and Number Symbols
Karl Menninger’s cultural history covers counting words, tallies and written numerals in many cultures, including systems that use letters. The English edition appeared in 1969, and Dover still keeps it in print.
The Universal History of Numbers
Georges Ifrah’s large history follows number systems from prehistory onward. It includes a section on alphabetic numerals, the family that abjad numerals belong to. Wiley published the English edition in 2000.
Some historians have criticized parts of this book. Read it for the broad story, and check details in specialist works.
Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science
Roshdi Rashed edited this three-volume work with Régis Morelon, published by Routledge in 1996. Volume 2 has a chapter on numeration and arithmetic in the Arabic tradition.
What Urdu Books Cover Chronograms?
Chronograms are the best-known use of letter values in Urdu. Rekhta, a large Urdu literature website, lets anyone read these books online at no cost.
| Title | Meaning | Author | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fann-e-Tareekh Goi | The Art of Chronogram Writing | Ratan Pandorwi | 1984 |
| Qataat-e-Tareekh | Chronogram Verses | Shaanul Haq Haqqi | 1985 |
| Jameuttawareekh | A Collection of Chronograms | Hamid Hasan Qadri | 2000 |
| Ilm-e-Arooz-o-Qafiya-o-Tareekh Goi | Meter, Rhyme and Chronograms | Syed Hasan Kazim Arooz | 1951 |
| Ganjeena-e-Tawareekh | A Treasury of Chronograms | Hakeem Meer Nadir Ali Raad | 1896 |
Read them with the chronogram decoder open. You can check every year these books quote.
How Can You Find Legal Free Copies?
Searches for “ilm ul adad book pdf” often lead to pirated files. These copies may be incomplete, and sharing them can break copyright law.
- Project Gutenberg offers books that are in the public domain.
- Rekhta shows Urdu books it has permission to display.
- The Internet Archive lists a rights statement on each item, so check it before you download.
- Your public or university library may lend the newer books as e-books.
How Can You Judge an Ilm-ul-Adad Book?
A good book lets you check its numbers yourself. Use this short checklist before you buy or borrow any title.
- Named author: the book names a real author or editor and a publisher.
- Clear system: it says whether it uses the Mashriqi or the Maghribi values.
- Shown working: it adds up the letters step by step, so you can follow each sum.
- Spelling rules: it explains how it counts hamza, ta marbuta and Urdu letters such as ے.
- Sources: it cites older works or ends with a bibliography.
- Calm claims: it does not promise wealth, health or a perfect match.
A book that fails two or more points is weak for study. It may still be fun to read, but do not trust its numbers.
Quick test: pick three totals from the book and check them yourself. If one is wrong, look at the spelling and the system before you blame the author.
How Do You Check a Number a Book Quotes?
Many books print totals for names, places or years. You can check each one in under a minute.
- Copy the word exactly as the book spells it.
- Add its letters with the phrase value calculator.
- Compare your total with the number in the book.
- If they differ, check the spelling first and the system second.
For example, the city name لاہور adds up like this. Urdu ہ counts the same as Arabic ه.
ل 30 + ا 1 + ہ 5 + و 6 + ر 200 = 242
Small spelling changes move the total. Our guide on why values differ lists the usual causes.
Which Free Online References Help Alongside Books?
Two Wikipedia articles make good free companions to the books. They are short, cite their sources and read well on a phone.
- Abjad numerals gives both letter orders and the value of every letter. It also notes that the system has no zero and no fractions.
- Chronogram explains date writing with letters in several traditions, including Latin and Hebrew ones.
Treat Wikipedia as a starting point, not a final word. Follow its footnotes to the books on this list when you need detail.
This site also has free study sheets. Print the printable Abjad chart or make practice pages with the worksheet generator.
Should You Read in English or Urdu?
Pick the language that matches your goal. English books explain history and method, while the Urdu books are rich in chronogram verse.
| Step | English path | Urdu path |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | History of numbers and letter values | Chronogram poetry and dates |
| Start with | The Iranica entry “Abjad” | Fann-e-Tareekh Goi |
| Then read | Menninger or Ifrah | Qataat-e-Tareekh |
| Practice with | The Abjad quiz | The chronogram decoder |
You can also mix both paths. Learn the method in English, then use the Urdu books for practice.
Where Should a Beginner Start?
Read the Iranica entry first, then our guide to what Ilm-ul-Adad is. Move on to Ifrah or Menninger for the wider history.
Turn to Fann-e-Tareekh Goi when you want to try chronograms. Practice the letter values as you read with the Abjad quiz and the Ilm-ul-Adad calculator.
What Does a Four-Week Reading Plan Look Like?
A short plan keeps you moving. Spend about 20 minutes a day, and finish each week with a little practice.
| Week | Read | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Iranica entry and our introduction | Learn the eight memory words |
| 2 | The early chapters of The Hindu-Arabic Numerals | Write years as letters with the number to Abjad tool |
| 3 | Menninger’s or Ifrah’s pages on letter numerals | Solve one worksheet from the generator |
| 4 | Fann-e-Tareekh Goi on Rekhta | Decode two chronograms from the book |
Keep a notebook as you go. Write each new letter value, each spelling rule and each total you checked.
By week four, you should read a short chronogram without help. If not, repeat week three before moving on.
خلاصہ
علمِ اعداد پر مفید کتابیں تین قسم کی ہیں: مختصر حوالہ جاتی مضامین، اعداد کی تاریخ پر کتابیں، اور تاریخ گوئی پر اردو کتابیں۔ ان گیارہ میں سے سات ذرائع انٹرنیٹ پر قانونی طور پر مفت پڑھے جا سکتے ہیں۔ پیش گوئی کا دعویٰ کرنے والی کتابیں اس فہرست میں شامل نہیں۔
Sources and Further Reading
- Abjad, Encyclopaedia Iranica, by Georg Krotkoff (1982).
- The Hindu-Arabic Numerals, Project Gutenberg eBook 22599.
- Tareekh-Goi collection, Rekhta.
- Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science, Wikipedia overview of the volumes.
- Abjad numerals, Wikipedia. Letter orders, values, and the note on zero and fractions.
- Chronogram, Wikipedia. Chronograms in Latin, Hebrew and other traditions.
- See our sources and bibliography for the references this site uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one standard textbook on Ilm-ul-Adad?
No single standard textbook exists in English. Most readers combine a reference entry, a history of numbers and a calculator.
Are these books written in Arabic?
Most are in English or Urdu. The Urdu books use the Urdu script, and Rekhta shows them as scanned pages.
Can I download the Rekhta books?
Rekhta lets you read the books online at no cost. Download options depend on each book, so check its page.
Do the history books show how to calculate a name?
Not step by step. Use the calculator and the letter table for that, and the books for background.
What if a book and the calculator give different totals?
Check the spelling the book used, letter by letter. Then check whether it uses Mashriqi or Maghribi values.
Do I need to read every book on this list?
No. One reference entry, one history and one Urdu book are enough for a strong start.
Will you add more books to this list?
Yes. We add a book only after checking its author, its content and a legal way to read it.