Advanced Arabic reading

Al-Khwarizmi, Father of Algebra in Arabic

الخوارزمي أبو الجبر

Al-Khwarizmi, Father of Algebra is a Advanced-level Arabic reading text about Al-Khwarizmi’s work in mathematics and its lasting influence. Its fully vocalized Arabic helps learners read each word accurately, while the sentence-by-sentence English translation supports understanding. The story also includes optional Arabic audio, useful vocabulary, comprehension practice and a focused language point. It works well for independent reading, a short classroom lesson or shared practice with a parent.

Read the Arabic story with English translation

Read each Arabic sentence from right to left. Use the speaker button to hear the sentence, then check its English meaning underneath.

وُلِدَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَى الْخَوَارِزْمِيُّ نَحْوَ سَنَةِ ٧٨٠ مِيلَادِيَّةً.

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was born around 780 CE.

عَاشَ فِي الْعَصْرِ الْعَبَّاسِيِّ، وَعَمِلَ فِي بَيْتِ الْحِكْمَةِ فِي بَغْدَادَ.

He lived during the Abbasid era and worked at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.

دَرَسَ الرِّيَاضِيَّاتِ وَالْفَلَكَ وَالْجُغْرَافِيَا، وَأَلَّفَ كُتُبًا مُهِمَّةً فِي هَذِهِ الْمَجَالَاتِ.

He studied mathematics, astronomy, and geography and wrote important books in these fields.

مِنْ أَشْهَرِ كُتُبِهِ «الْكِتَابُ الْمُخْتَصَرُ فِي حِسَابِ الْجَبْرِ وَالْمُقَابَلَةِ».

One of his best-known works is The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing.

شَرَحَ فِيهِ طُرُقًا مُنَظَّمَةً لِحَلِّ الْمَسَائِلِ وَالْمُعَادَلَاتِ.

In it, he explained systematic methods for solving problems and equations.

اِشْتُقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ «أَلْجِبْرَا» فِي اللُّغَاتِ الْأُورُوبِّيَّةِ مِنْ كَلِمَةِ «الْجَبْرِ» الْعَرَبِيَّةِ.

The word “algebra” in European languages was derived from the Arabic word al-jabr.

وَسَاعَدَتْ أَعْمَالُهُ فِي الْحِسَابِ عَلَى اِنْتِشَارِ نِظَامِ الْأَرْقَامِ الْهِنْدِيَّةِ فِي أُورُوبَّا.

His work on arithmetic helped spread the Hindu numeral system in Europe.

وَمِنَ الصِّيغَةِ اللَّاتِينِيَّةِ لِاسْمِهِ جَاءَتْ كَلِمَةُ «أَلْغُورِيثْمْ» فِي اللُّغَةِ الْإِنْجِلِيزِيَّةِ.

The English word “algorithm” comes from the Latin form of his name.

مَا زَالَ إِرْثُ الْخَوَارِزْمِيِّ حَاضِرًا فِي الرِّيَاضِيَّاتِ وَالتِّقْنِيَةِ حَتَّى الْيَوْمِ.

Al-Khwarizmi’s legacy remains present in mathematics and technology today.

New Arabic words from the story

These words all appear in the story. Listen, repeat and find each one in the text above.

الْعَصْرُ الْعَبَّاسِيُّ The Abbasid era
الْفَلَكُ Astronomy
أَلَّفَ Authored
الْجَبْرُ Algebra
مُعَادَلَاتٌ Equations
اِشْتُقَّتْ Was derived
خَوَارِزْمِيَّةٌ Algorithm
إِرْثٌ Legacy

Reading comprehension questions

Choose one answer for each question. Your score updates after every first attempt.

Score: 0 / 6

1. Where did Al-Khwarizmi work?

2. Which English word comes from the Latin form of his name?

3. Which Arabic word is the source of “algebra”?

4. What did al-Khwarizmi’s algebra book explain?

5. Why does his work still matter today?

6. What did Al-Khwarizmi explain in his algebra book?

Learn Arabic from this story

اِشْتُقَّتْ مِنْ explains word origins

The word “algebra” in European languages was derived from the Arabic word al-jabr.

اِشْتُقَّتْ … مِنْ means “was derived from.” It is useful when explaining where a word or term comes from.

Another example: اِشْتُقَّتِ الْكَلِمَةُ مِنَ الْعَرَبِيَّةِ. — The word was derived from Arabic.

For parents and teachers

Read the story in sections and discuss the ideas connected with mathematics, biography and word origins. Ask the learner to summarize each section, explain character motives or causes, support inferences with evidence from the Arabic, answer the comprehension questions, and finish with a short written or creative response.

Questions about Al-Khwarizmi, Father of Algebra

What level is Al-Khwarizmi, Father of Algebra?

Al-Khwarizmi, Father of Algebra is marked Advanced. The full tashkīl, English translation and sentence audio provide extra support for developing readers.

What can learners practise in Al-Khwarizmi, Father of Algebra?

Learners practise connected reading, listening, comprehension and vocabulary related to mathematics, biography and word origins.

How should this Arabic story be used?

Read one sentence at a time, listen to the audio, repeat the Arabic aloud, check the English only when needed, and then answer the questions from memory.

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