The Prophet ﷺ said, |
Short Surahs
Formal prayer is always recited in Arabic, there-fore Muslims need to know some surahs for prayer. As a general rule of thumb, the final 20 or so verses in Qur'an are relatively short and therefore good for the new Muslim to start with memorizing. Below are a few to get you started.
Al-Fatiha (Qur'an 1, the opening chapter)
This the first verse in the Qur'an and it is recited every time a Muslim stands in prayer. In this recitation below, and in many recitations you will hear, it starts "A’uzu Billahi Minash-shaitan ir- Rajim"; this translates to mean, "I seek refuge with Allah from the outcast Satan," and is said before reading/reciting Qur'an and at the start of salah (prayer).
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Transliteration:
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Al-hamdu-lillah ir Rabbil `alamin Ar-Rahman ir-Raheem; Maliki yawmid-deen Iyyakan'a buduwa 'iyyaka nust'a`aeen Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqeem Siratal ladhina 'an 'amta 'alayhim Ghayril-maghdubi `alayhim wa la-dhaalleen. Ameen |
Translation:
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord (Who is the Creator, Sustainer and Guide) of all the worlds. The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful; Sovereign of the Day of Judgment. Thee (alone) do we worship, And from thee (alone) we seek help. Show us the straight Path, The Path of those (who fear Allah) and on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings. Not of those (committing wrongs deliberately) On whom Thou art angry, Nor of those who (Having wrong opinions) go astray. Ameen |
Surat Al-Quraysh (Qur'an 106)
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Transliteration:
Bismillah irrahman irraheem La e-lah fee Qooraysh E-lah fehim rihlatih sheetaahh ey wa sayf Fell-ya boodoo Rubbaha dhel bayt Al-ladhee a ta'amahoom min ju'aoo wa ah men-ahoom min khawf |
Translation:
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful For the covenants (of security and safeguard enjoyed) by the Quraish, Their covenants (covering) journeys by winter and summer,- Let them adore the Lord of this House, Who provides them with food against hunger, and with security against fear (of danger). |
Surat Al-Ma'un (Qur'an 107)
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Transliteration:
Bismillah irrahman irraheem Ara aytallathee yukaththibu bi deen Fathalika allathee yadu Au alyateem Wala yahuddu AAala taAAami almiskeen Fawaylun lilmusaleleen Allatheena hum AAan salatihim sahoon Allatheena hoom yuraoon WayemnaAAoona almaAAoon |
Translation:
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Have you seen him who denies the Recompense? That is he who repulses the orphan (harshly), And urges not on the feeding of Al-Miskin (the poor), So woe unto those performers of Salat (prayers) (hypocrites), Those who delay their Salat (prayer from their stated fixed times). Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men), And prevent Al-Ma'un (small kindnesses like salt, sugar, water). |
Surat Al-Kafiroon (Qur'an 109)
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Transliteration
Bismillah irrahman irraheem Qul ya ayyuhal-kaafir-roon. Laa a’budu maa ta’budoon. Wa laa antum ‘abiduuna maa a’bood. Wa laa ana ‘aabidum-maa ‘abadtoom. Wa laa antum ‘aabiduna maa a’bood. Lakum dinu kum wa liya dheen. |
Translation
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Say: O, unbelievers! I do not worship that you worship, and you do not worship that which I worship. I do not worship that you worship, and you do not worship that which I worship. You have a faith [religion] of your own, and I have mine. |
Surat An-Nasr (Qur'an 110)
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Transliteration:
Itha jaa nusru Allahi waalfat-h Waraayta alnnasa yadkhuloona fee deeni Allahi afwaja Fasabbih bihamdi rabbika waistaghfirh innahu kana tawwaba |
Translation:
When comes the Help of God, and Victory, And thou dost see the people enter God's Religion in crowds, Celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy). |
Surat Al-Masad (Qur'an 111)
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Transliteration:
Bismillaah irrahmaan irraheem Tabbat yadaa Abi lahabiu wa tabb Maa aghna ‘anhu maaluhu wa maa kasab Sayasla naaran thaata lahab Wamra atuhu hammaa lata-l-hatab Fee Jeedihahablum mim masad. |
Translation:
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful The power of Abu Lahab will perish, and he will perish. His wealth and gains will not exempt him. He will be plunged in flaming Fire, And his wife, the wood-carrier, Will have upon her neck a halter of palm-fiber. |
Surat Al-Ikhlas (Qur'an 112)
This is an important surah in Al-Qur'an. It is narrated in Hadith that recitation of this surah is valued as if one read 1/3 of the Qur'an. Subhanallah, you can recite this verse 3 times and Allah will reward you as if you read the entire Qur'an!
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Transliteration:
Bismillah Ir-Rahman Ir-Raheem Qul hoo Allahu ahid Allahu som-med Lem yellid wa lem yoo lid Wa lem yakoon la hoo kufuwun ahid |
Translation:
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Say: He is Allah, the One and Only! Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him. |
Surat Al-Falaq (Qur'an 113)
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Transliteration:
Bismillaah irrahmaan irraheem Kul a’uthu bi rabbil-falaq Min sharri ma khalaq Wa min sharri ghasiqin ithawaqab Wa min sharri annaffathatifil ‘auqad Wa min sharri haasidin ithaa hasad |
Translation:
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak From the evil of that which He created; From the evil of the darkness when it is intense, And from the evil of malignant witchcraft, And from the evil of the envier when he envies. |
Surat An-Naas (Qur'an 114)
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Transliteration:
Bismillaah irrahmaan irraheem Qul aAAoothu birabbi nas Maliki nas Ilahin nas Min sharri alwaswasi alkhan-nas Allathee yuwaswisu fee sudoorin-nas Mina aljinnati wan-nas |
Translation:
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, The King of mankind, The God of mankind, From the evil of the retreating whisperer - Who whispers in the hearts of mankind, Of the jinn and of mankind. |
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This video is a recitation of Surat Al-Iklas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas (all noted above). They are excellent surahs for memorization as they are short, easy, and also because our Prophet ﷺ told us that they were good for seeking protection with Allah (SWT) from evils. In a dialogue with one of his companions, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked: “O, Abu Habis! Would you like me to tell you of the best words, which people may voice searching the protection of Allah?” He said: “Of course, O, Allah rasul!” In return, the Prophet ﷺ read the last two surahs of Qur'an (Al-Falaq and An-Nas) and added: “These two surahs are used [by people] for Allah’s protection.”
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It is also noted in Hadith narrated by Aisha (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ used to recite the last three surahs (112, 113, and 114) of the Qur'an 3 times each before sleeping at night.
****For more short surahs, click here.
Click here to listen to the entire Qur'an by surah; this page also has transliteration/recitation links, which will assist with proper pronunciation as you memorize new verses.
Click here to listen to the entire Qur'an by surah; this page also has transliteration/recitation links, which will assist with proper pronunciation as you memorize new verses.