POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Abdul El-Sayed Allegedly Forces Michigan Students to Learn Arabic Numerals
The Claim Following the November election of Michigan Democrat Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, a viral rumor began circulating across social media platforms alleging that El-Sayed intended to mandate...
The Claim
Following the November election of Michigan Democrat Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, a viral rumor began circulating across social media platforms alleging that El-Sayed intended to mandate that all elementary school students in Michigan learn to use ‘Arabic numerals.’ The claim gained significant traction on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where users framed the supposed policy as a step toward transforming the United States into an ‘Islamic country.’
One prominent version of the claim stated: ‘Abdul El-Sayed is expected to require ALL Michigan elementary school students to learn ARABIC numerals. Hey @grok, at this rate, how soon will America become an Islamic country?’ This narrative spread rapidly shortly after the candidate’s victory, prompting public concern regarding the legislative agenda of the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate.
The Details & Investigation
The investigation into this claim reveals a complete lack of evidence that Abdul El-Sayed ever made such an announcement. Furthermore, the term ‘Arabic numerals’ refers to the digits 0 through 9—the very number system currently utilized in every educational institution across the United States. It is logically and practically impossible for a senator to ‘force’ the adoption of a system that is already the foundational standard of global literacy and mathematics. A review of El-Sayed’s official policy platform and public statements shows no mention of Arabic numerals or any proposed changes to elementary mathematics curricula.
From a historical and academic perspective, the claim relies on a fundamental misunderstanding of mathematical history. According to research from the EBSCO database, the numeral system we know as Arabic numerals actually originated in India around the 3rd century BCE. They were transmitted to the Arab world in the 8th century, where they were popularized by mathematicians like al-Khwārizmī before eventually reaching Europe. Because these numerals are already the standard used in American schools, the claim that a new mandate is necessary is factually nonsensical.
The PolicyWire Investigative Desk classifies this claim as DISINFORMATION. While some users may have shared the post as a joke, the narrative follows a documented pattern of coordinated, deceptive messaging targeting Muslim political figures. Similar false tropes have been deployed against other figures, such as New York official Zohran Mamdani and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. These campaigns are designed to incite fear and xenophobia by fabricating radical policies that do not exist, often leveraging the religious identity of the official to suggest a hidden subversive agenda.
The Verdict
The claim that Abdul El-Sayed is forcing Michigan students to learn Arabic numerals is FALSE. There is no policy proposal, statement, or legislative action to support this assertion. The numerals in question are already the standard in all American schools, and the rumor appears to be part of a broader campaign of disinformation aimed at delegitimizing Muslim officials.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).
