The world does not question the abilities of runners like Usain Bolt, known as "Lightning Bolt", who has held the record for the fastest run 100 meters since 2009, clocking in at just 9.58 seconds. However, the less visible but equally demanding race within the corridors of the human mind often goes unrecognized and unappreciated.
A 51-year-old man from Irbid, Jordan, has captivated the Arab world with his remarkable ability to calculate the number of characters in spoken sentences, as well as several other calculations of ages and dates.
His unique technique allowed him to achieve a record for the fastest time to mentally count letters in 10 sentences, completing the task in 35.5 seconds.
Typically, Mohammad Sayaheen can produce the final count for each sentence within a second or two. However, Guinness World Records required him to read each sentence aloud to ensure consistency, as reading speeds and accuracy can vary.
Mohammad first discovered his talent in 1988, however, his appearance on the pan-Arab talent show Arabs Got Talent 11 years ago left the judges in awe and established him as a memorable figure across the Arab region.
After his debut on the show, he advanced to the second round, raising his calculation capacity to a minimum of 200 characters, up from the 100 characters he had practised throughout his life. He also demonstrated his skill with English sentences, raising questions about his full potential.
Want to read this story in Arabic? Click here!
Superior mathematicians often forego pen, paper, and technology when performing high-speed calculations. While many of us struggle to add a series of 100 numbers in under 10 minutes, some excel in this task. An example is the Turkish prodigy, Omer Yigit Agma, who set a record by mentally adding 100 numbers in an astonishingly brief period of 18.9 seconds in July 2016.
“I realized my ability to calculate fast in secondary school, almost by accident,” Mohammad shared. “I initially thought all kids could do what I do, until a math teacher told me otherwise.”
Over the past decade or so, during numerous media interviews, presenters have suggested collaborations with energy drink companies and research centers to Mohammad, though he admits he hasn't had much success in these ventures.
“I don’t need any warm-up; I can instantly do these calculations first thing in the morning,” Mohammad said, declining an offer of coffee while waiting at the Guinness World Records offices in Dubai.
Interestingly, Mohammad's nickname is "Abu Alhorof" akin to the 1970s animated series The Adventures of Letterman, where the character Spell Binder causes trouble by altering a word's letters, changing its meaning, and Letterman restores it.
Guinness World Records requested the use of a random sentence generator for his record attempt, ensuring each sentence was grammatically correct and contained at least seven to 10 words, including a subject, verb, and object.
Addressing questions about how he accomplishes such feats, Mohammad explained: “I’ve transcended the need for intense mental focus; now, I depend on the sensitivity of my fingertips. For example, the ring finger on my second counting hand might represent nine, 19, or 29 in any given sentence.
"The second part of my process involves quickly summing up these counts. With practise, this becomes very fast, though having a natural talent is clearly a significant factor.”
Mohammad's skill extends beyond this; he can accurately calculate someone's age instantly if given their date of birth. The speed and accuracy of this feat leaves many astounded.
Intriguingly, Mohammad claims he might eventually discern the number of shots fired from an automatic gun just by the sound. This ability, while not yet verified, illustrates his exceptional confidence.
Mohammad also believes he has uncovered numerical patterns in the Quran, a book revered in Islam for its unaltered state. Followers of Islam have long noted its precise calculations. For instance, the distance between Earth and the star Sirius is said to be 8.61 million light-years, a figure that reportedly matches the number of characters separating the words ‘Earth’ and ‘Sirius’ in the Quran's chapter ‘The Star.’
Today, a 40-year dream of mine has come true. It may seem ironic that, being known as "The Letterman", I find myself at a loss for words to describe my feelings. I am immensely grateful for being honoured with the Guinness World Records title.
If you love watching records being broken you should check out our Records Weekly series on YouTube...
Want more? Follow us on Google News and across our social media channels to stay up-to-date with all things Guinness World Records! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Snapchat Discover.
Don't forget to check out our videos on YouTube and become part of our group chat by following the Guinness World Records WhatsApp channel.
Still not had enough? Click here to buy our latest book, filled to the brim with stories about our amazing record breakers.
Related Articles
