Fact Check: Will Abdul El-Sayed force Michigan elementary students to learn Arabic numerals?

WASHINGTON, DC: Following the November 2026 midterm elections, a rumor began circulating on social media about Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed.

The viral claim suggested that El-Sayed, who is reportedly the first Muslim US senator, would require all elementary school students in Michigan to learn Arabic numerals. The claim sparked debate and confusion, with some users linking the alleged policy to his religious background. Let's fact-check the claim.

Claim: Abdul El-Sayed plans to make school students learn Arabic numerals

The rumor about Abdul El-Sayed allegedly planning to make all elementary school students in Michigan learn Arabic numerals first spread on X (formerly Twitter).

One user, Brian Krassenstein, shared the claim, writing, "Abdul El-Sayed is expected to require ALL Michigan Elementary school students to learn ARABIC numerals. As a Jewish American, I still support this 100%."

The post received mixed reactions from other users. Some supported the idea, while others questioned or mocked the claim.

One user commented, "Dumb people are going to cry in the comments." Another supported teaching different cultures, saying, "Knowledge is power... I want them to learn about all cultures ❤️"

However, not everyone believed the claim was genuine. One surprised user questioned whether the post was satire, commenting, "wtf is this satire? LOL new levels of absolute absurdity."

Another user raised doubts about the claim's accuracy, pointing out that a US senator may not have the authority to decide state education policies. The commenter also suggested that the post was intended to attract attention rather than share meaningful information.

Fact Check: The claim is false

The claim is false. First, El-Sayed cannot introduce a requirement to learn something that is already part of the American education system.

The term "Arabic numerals" refers to the digits 0 through 9, which are already widely used and taught in schools across the United States. Furthermore, there is no evidence that El-Sayed made any such announcement after winning his Senate election.

Arabic numerals are the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. According to the research database EBSCO, these numerals did not originally come from the Arab world.

Historical evidence suggests that their earliest forms appeared in India around the 3rd century BCE. They later spread to the Arab world during the 8th century, where they were further developed before reaching Europe.

Mathematician Al-Khwarizmi also played an important role in popularizing the number system through his writings, which influenced the development of mathematics in Europe.

Similar claims have circulated on social media when Muslim politicians are elected to public office. Whether shared as a joke or presented as a real statement, these rumors can mislead people and create unnecessary confusion about a politician's religious background and public policies.