14 short surahs that are easy to learn and to recite in your salah — Al-Fātiḥah and the last thirteen surahs of the Qur’an, in the order that is easiest to learn. Each one has the Arabic, a transliteration to help you start, the meaning in English, what it is about and a tip for remembering it. Under each surah you can hide the meaning or transliteration, test yourself ayah by ayah, and tick it off when you know it.
HanafiUsing them in your salah
- Say Bismillāh quietly, then recite Al-Fātiḥah in every rakʿah.
- After Al-Fātiḥah, add a surah — or at least three short ayat — in the first two rakʿahs of every fard salah, and in every rakʿah of Witr, Sunnah and Nafl.
- In the third and fourth rakʿahs of a fard salah, recite Al-Fātiḥah only.
- When you pray behind the Imam, stand quietly and listen — in the Hanafi school, the follower does not recite.
- Keep the order of the Qur’an: the surah in the second rakʿah should come after the one in the first — for example Al-ʿAṣr, then Al-Ikhlāṣ. Reciting them the other way round on purpose is disliked, but the salah is still valid.
- Try not to leave out just one short surah between the two (for example Quraysh, then Al-Kawthar — Al-Māʿūn is left out). Use the very next surah, or leave two or more.
- Make the first rakʿah about as long as the second, or a little longer — especially in Fajr.
- If you only know one surah so far, you may recite it in both rakʿahs — your salah is valid. Keep learning!
How to learn a surah
- Listen to a good reciter several times, following the Arabic with your finger.
- Take one ayah at a time: read it five times looking, then say it five times without looking.
- Add the next ayah, then say both together. Keep joining until the surah is complete.
- Recite it in your salah the same day — in your Sunnah or Nafl rakʿahs.
- Recite it to someone — the Imam, a madrasah teacher or a parent — so they can check every letter.
- Keep revising the surahs you already know — one or two each day, so you never forget them.
The transliteration helps you start, but some Arabic letters (such as ع ح ق ص ض ط ظ) have no English sound — please learn the pronunciation from a teacher.
Pairs for two rakʿahs
Ideas that keep the order of the Qur’an. Recite the first surah after Al-Fātiḥah in the first rakʿah, and the second in the second rakʿah.
| First rakʿah | Second rakʿah |
|---|---|
| Al-ʿAṣr (103) | Al-Kawthar (108) |
| Al-Kawthar (108) | Al-Ikhlāṣ (112) |
| Al-Fīl (105) | Quraysh (106) |
| Al-Falaq (113) | An-Nās (114) |
| At-Takāthur (102) | Al-ʿAṣr (103) |
| Al-Māʿūn (107) | An-Naṣr (110) |
| An-Naṣr (110) | Al-Falaq (113) |
| Al-Kāfirūn (109) | Al-Ikhlāṣ (112) The Sunnah in the two rakʿahs before Fajr (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 726) |
In Witr, the Prophet ﷺ would recite Al-Aʿlā (87), Al-Kāfirūn and Al-Ikhlāṣ (Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1423).
Stage 1: Start here
Learn these first — they are short and used in salah every day.
Stage 2: Next
Four more short surahs, three to six ayat each.
Stage 3: Then
Five or six ayat, with a story behind them.
Stage 4: A little longer
Eight and nine short ayat — take them a few ayat at a time.
Surah 1 of 14 to learn · Stage 1: Start here
Al-Fātiḥah
سورة الفاتحة
Recite each ayah from memory, then press to check it.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾
Al-hamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾
Ar-rahmānir-rahīm
The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾
Māliki yawmid-dīn
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَٰطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾
Ihdinas-sirātal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَٰطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
Sirātal-ladhīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghdūbi ʿalayhim wa lad-dāllīn
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
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About this surah
The opening of the Qur’an and the heart of every salah. It praises Allah, declares that we worship Him alone and ask Him alone for help, and asks Him to guide us to the straight path.
From the hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no salah for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 756 · Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 394
Tip for learning: Learn this one first — it is recited in every rakʿah of every salah. At the end, say “Āmīn” quietly — and also when the Imam finishes it.
Surah 2 of 14 to learn · Stage 1: Start here
Al-Ikhlāṣ
سورة الإخلاص
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾
Qul huwallāhu ahad
Say, “He is Allah, [who is] One.
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾
Allāhus-samad
Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
He neither begets nor is born.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدُ ﴿٤﴾
Wa lam yakul-lahū kufuwan ahad
Nor is there to Him any equivalent”
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About this surah
Pure belief in the Oneness of Allah (tawḥīd) in four short ayat: Allah is One; everyone needs Him and He needs no one; He has no children and no parents; and nothing is like Him.
From the hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said: “By the One in whose hand is my soul, it is equal to a third of the Qur’an.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5013 (meaning)
Tip for learning: The ayat end with a gentle rhyme: aḥad · ṣamad · yūlad · aḥad. It begins and ends with “aḥad” — One.
Surah 3 of 14 to learn · Stage 1: Start here
Al-Kawthar
سورة الكوثر
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَٰكَ الْكَوْثَرَ ﴿١﴾
Innā aʿtaynākal-kawthar
Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar.
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ﴿٢﴾
Fasalli li-rabbika wanhar
So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].
إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ ﴿٣﴾
Inna shāni’aka huwal-abtar
Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off.
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About this surah
The shortest surah in the Qur’an. Allah gave the Prophet ﷺ al-Kawthar — abundant good, and a river in Paradise — so pray to your Lord and sacrifice for Him alone.
From the hadith
The Prophet ﷺ recited this surah, then said: “Do you know what al-Kawthar is? It is a river which my Lord has promised me, in which there is abundant good.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 400 (meaning)
Tip for learning: Only ten words. All three ayat end in “-ar”: kawthar · wanḥar · abtar.
Surah 4 of 14 to learn · Stage 1: Start here
Al-ʿAṣr
سورة العصر
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾
Wal-ʿasr
By time.
إِنَّ الْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾
Innal-insāna lafī khusr
Indeed, mankind is in loss.
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ ﴿٣﴾
Illal-ladhīna āmanū wa ʿamilus-sālihāti wa tawāsaw bil-haqqi wa tawāsaw bis-sabr
Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
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About this surah
Allah swears by time: every person is losing — except those who believe, do good deeds, and encourage one another to the truth and to patience.
From the hadith
Imam ash-Shāfiʿī said: “If people thought deeply about this surah, it would be enough for them.”
Quoted in Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Sūrah al-ʿAṣr
Tip for learning: The endings rhyme: ʿaṣr · khusr · ṣabr. The last ayah is longer — learn it in two halves, starting the second half at “wa tawāṣaw”.
Surah 5 of 14 to learn · Stage 2: Next
An-Naṣr
سورة النصر
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ ﴿١﴾
Idhā jā’a nasrullāhi wal-fath
When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest.
وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا ﴿٢﴾
Wa ra’aytan-nāsa yadkhulūna fī dīnillāhi afwājā
And you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes.
فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا ﴿٣﴾
Fasabbih bi-hamdi rabbika wastaghfirh, innahū kāna tawwābā
Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.
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About this surah
Revealed near the end of the Prophet’s ﷺ life: when Allah’s help and victory come and people enter Islam in crowds, glorify your Lord with His praise and ask His forgiveness.
From the hadith
ʿĀʾishah said that after this surah came down, the Prophet ﷺ did not pray a salah without saying in it: “Subḥānaka rabbanā wa bi-ḥamdika, Allāhumma-ghfir lī.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4967 (meaning)
Tip for learning: Picture it in order: Allah’s help comes (ayah 1), people come into Islam (ayah 2), so we praise Allah and ask forgiveness (ayah 3).
Surah 6 of 14 to learn · Stage 2: Next
Quraysh
سورة قريش
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
لِإِيلَٰفِ قُرَيْشٍ ﴿١﴾
Li-īlāfi Quraysh
For the accustomed security of the Quraysh.
إِلَٰفِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ الشِّتَآءِ وَالصَّيْفِ ﴿٢﴾
Īlāfihim rihlatash-shitā’i was-sayf
Their accustomed security [in] the caravan of winter and summer.
فَلْيَعْبُدُوا رَبَّ هَٰذَا الْبَيْتِ ﴿٣﴾
Falyaʿbudū rabba hādhal-bayt
Let them worship the Lord of this House.
الَّذِي أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَآمَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفِ ﴿٤﴾
Alladhī atʿamahum min jūʿiw-wa āmanahum min khawf
Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear.
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About this surah
Allah reminds the Quraysh, the tribe of Makkah, of His gifts: safe trading journeys in winter and summer, food in place of hunger and safety in place of fear. So they should worship the Lord of this House — the Kaʿbah.
Did you know?
It follows on from Sūrah al-Fīl: Allah protected the Kaʿbah, and the people of Makkah lived in safety because of it.
Tip for learning: The endings: Quraysh · ṣayf · bayt · khawf. The journeys come in this order: winter (shitā’), then summer (ṣayf).
Surah 7 of 14 to learn · Stage 2: Next
Al-Falaq
سورة الفلق
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾
Qul aʿūdhu bi-rabbil-falaq
Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak.
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾
Min sharri mā khalaq
From the evil of that which He created.
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾
Wa min sharri ghāsiqin idhā waqab
And from the evil of darkness when it settles.
وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾
Wa min sharrin-naffāthāti fil-ʿuqad
And from the evil of the blowers in knots.
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥﴾
Wa min sharri hāsidin idhā hasad
And from the evil of an envier when he envies”
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About this surah
With An-Nās, one of the two surahs of protection (al-Muʿawwidhatān). We ask Allah, the Lord of daybreak, to protect us from the harm of what He created, the darkness of night, those who blow on knots (magic), and the envious.
From the hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Have you not seen the ayat sent down tonight, the like of which has never been seen? Qul aʿūdhu bi-rabbil-falaq and Qul aʿūdhu bi-rabbin-nās.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 814 (meaning)
Tip for learning: After the first ayah, every ayah begins “(wa) min sharri” — “(and) from the evil of”. Learn the four things one at a time.
Surah 8 of 14 to learn · Stage 2: Next
An-Nās
سورة الناس
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ﴿١﴾
Qul aʿūdhu bi-rabbin-nās
Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind.
مَلِكِ النَّاسِ ﴿٢﴾
Malikin-nās
The Sovereign of mankind.
إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ ﴿٣﴾
Ilāhin-nās
The God of mankind.
مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ ﴿٤﴾
Min sharril-waswāsil-khannās
From the evil of the retreating whisperer.
الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ ﴿٥﴾
Alladhī yuwaswisu fī sudūrin-nās
Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind.
مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ ﴿٦﴾
Minal-jinnati wan-nās
From among the jinn and mankind”
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About this surah
The last surah of the Qur’an. We seek refuge in Allah — the Lord, the King and the God of all people — from the whisperer who puts bad thoughts into hearts, whether from the jinn or from people.
From the hadith
ʿĀʾishah said that every night, when going to bed, the Prophet ﷺ would blow into his cupped hands, recite Al-Ikhlāṣ, Al-Falaq and An-Nās, and wipe his hands over as much of his body as he could — three times.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5017 (meaning)
Tip for learning: Every ayah ends with the same sound, “-nās”. The first three ayat call Allah Rabb (Lord), Malik (King) and Ilāh (God) of people.
Surah 9 of 14 to learn · Stage 3: Then
Al-Kāfirūn
سورة الكافرون
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
قُلْ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا الْكَٰفِرُونَ ﴿١﴾
Qul yā ayyuhal-kāfirūn
Say, “O disbelievers.
لَآ أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ ﴿٢﴾
Lā aʿbudu mā taʿbudūn
I do not worship what you worship.
وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ ﴿٣﴾
Wa lā antum ʿābidūna mā aʿbud
Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.
وَلَآ أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ ﴿٤﴾
Wa lā ana ʿābidum-mā ʿabattum
Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship.
وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ ﴿٥﴾
Wa lā antum ʿābidūna mā aʿbud
Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship.
لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ ﴿٦﴾
Lakum dīnukum wa liya dīn
For you is your religion, and for me is my religion”
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About this surah
A clear statement of faith: we worship Allah alone and never mix our worship with anything else — “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”
From the hadith
Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Kāfirūn and Al-Ikhlāṣ in the two rakʿahs before Fajr.
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 726 (meaning)
Tip for learning: Ayah 3 and ayah 5 are exactly the same. Ayah 2 and ayah 4 are nearly the same — notice “taʿbudūn” in ayah 2 and “ʿabattum” in ayah 4.
Surah 10 of 14 to learn · Stage 3: Then
Al-Fīl
سورة الفيل
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَٰبِ الْفِيلِ ﴿١﴾
Alam tara kayfa faʿala rabbuka bi-ashābil-fīl
Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?
أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِي تَضْلِيلٍ ﴿٢﴾
Alam yajʿal kaydahum fī tadlīl
Did He not make their plan into misguidance?
وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ ﴿٣﴾
Wa arsala ʿalayhim tayran abābīl
And He sent against them birds in flocks.
تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ ﴿٤﴾
Tarmīhim bi-hijāratim-min sijjīl
Striking them with stones of hard clay.
فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولِ ﴿٥﴾
Fajaʿalahum kaʿasfim-ma’kūl
And He made them like eaten straw.
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About this surah
Abrahah marched on Makkah with an army and elephants to destroy the Kaʿbah. Allah sent flocks of birds carrying stones of baked clay, and the army was destroyed like eaten straw.
Did you know?
This happened in the year the Prophet ﷺ was born, so the Arabs called it “the Year of the Elephant”.
Tip for learning: The endings rhyme: fīl · taḍlīl · abābīl · sijjīl · ma’kūl. Ayat 1 and 2 both begin “Alam…” — “Did not…?”
Surah 11 of 14 to learn · Stage 3: Then
Al-Masad
سورة المسد
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ ﴿١﴾
Tabbat yadā abī lahabiw-wa tabb
May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he.
مَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ ﴿٢﴾
Mā aghnā ʿanhu māluhū wa mā kasab
His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained.
سَيَصْلَىٰ نَارًا ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ ﴿٣﴾
Sayaslā nāran dhāta lahab
He will [enter to] burn in a Fire of [blazing] flame.
وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ ﴿٤﴾
Wamra’atuhū hammālatal-hatab
And his wife [as well] — the carrier of firewood.
فِي جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدِ ﴿٥﴾
Fī jīdihā hablum-mim-masad
Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber.
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About this surah
About Abu Lahab, an uncle of the Prophet ﷺ who opposed him, and his wife, “the carrier of firewood”, who also harmed him. Being family of the Prophet ﷺ did not help Abu Lahab — what counts is faith and good deeds.
From the hadith
When the Prophet ﷺ called the people of Makkah together on the hill of Ṣafā to invite them to Islam, Abu Lahab said: “May you perish! Is it for this that you gathered us?” Then this surah was revealed.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4971 (meaning)
Tip for learning: The endings: tabb · kasab · lahab · ḥaṭab · masad. “Lahab” (flame) comes twice — in his name and in the Fire.
Surah 12 of 14 to learn · Stage 3: Then
Al-Māʿūn
سورة الماعون
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ ﴿١﴾
Ara’aytal-ladhī yukadhdhibu bid-dīn
Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense?
فَذَٰلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ ﴿٢﴾
Fadhālikal-ladhī yaduʿʿul-yatīm
For that is the one who drives away the orphan.
وَلَا يَحُضُّ عَلَىٰ طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ ﴿٣﴾
Wa lā yahuddu ʿalā taʿāmil-miskīn
And does not encourage the feeding of the poor.
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٤﴾
Fawaylul-lil-musallīn
So woe to those who pray.
الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ ﴿٥﴾
Alladhīna hum ʿan salātihim sāhūn
[But] who are heedless of their prayer.
الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَآءُونَ ﴿٦﴾
Alladhīna hum yurā’ūn
Those who make show [of their deeds].
وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ ﴿٧﴾
Wa yamnaʿūnal-māʿūn
And withhold [simple] assistance.
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About this surah
True faith shows in how we treat people and how we pray: being kind to orphans, encouraging the feeding of the poor, praying with care and sincerity — not to be seen — and not refusing small everyday help.
Did you know?
Al-Māʿūn means the small everyday things people lend one another — ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd explained it as things like a bucket or a cooking pot. Even small kindness matters.
Tip for learning: Ayat 5 and 6 both begin “Alladhīna hum” — “those who”. Ayat 1–3 are about how we treat people; ayat 4–7 are about salah.
Surah 13 of 14 to learn · Stage 4: A little longer
Al-Humazah
سورة الهمزة
Recite each ayah from memory, then press to check it.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ ﴿١﴾
Waylul-likulli humazatil-lumazah
Woe to every scorner and mocker.
الَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالًا وَعَدَّدَهُ ﴿٢﴾
Alladhī jamaʿa mālaw-wa ʿaddadah
Who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it.
يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ ﴿٣﴾
Yahsabu anna mālahū akhladah
He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.
كَلَّا لَيُنبَذَنَّ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ ﴿٤﴾
Kallā, layunbadhanna fil-hutamah
No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ ﴿٥﴾
Wa mā adrāka mal-hutamah
And what can make you know what is the Crusher?
نَارُ اللَّهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ ﴿٦﴾
Nārullāhil-mūqadah
It is the fire of Allah, [eternally] fueled.
الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْأَفْئِدَةِ ﴿٧﴾
Allatī tattaliʿu ʿalal-af’idah
Which mounts directed at the hearts.
إِنَّهَا عَلَيْهِم مُّؤْصَدَةٌ ﴿٨﴾
Innahā ʿalayhim mu’sadah
Indeed, Hellfire will be closed down upon them.
فِي عَمَدٍ مُّمَدَّدَةِ ﴿٩﴾
Fī ʿamadim-mumaddadah
In extended columns.
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About this surah
A warning against mocking people and putting them down, and against loving money so much that a person counts it again and again, thinking it will make him live for ever.
Did you know?
It teaches us to guard our tongue: no mocking, no putting people down — in front of them or behind their backs.
Tip for learning: Almost every ayah ends in “-ah”: lumazah · ʿaddadah · akhladah · ḥuṭamah … Ayat 4 and 5 both name “al-ḥuṭamah” — the Crusher.
Surah 14 of 14 to learn · Stage 4: A little longer
At-Takāthur
سورة التكاثر
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillāhir-rahmānir-rahīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
أَلْهَىٰكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ ﴿١﴾
Alhākumut-takāthur
Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you.
حَتَّىٰ زُرْتُمُ الْمَقَابِرَ ﴿٢﴾
Hattā zurtumul-maqābir
Until you visit the graveyards.
كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣﴾
Kallā sawfa taʿlamūn
No! You are going to know.
ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤﴾
Thumma kallā sawfa taʿlamūn
Then no! You are going to know.
كَلَّا لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ الْيَقِينِ ﴿٥﴾
Kallā law taʿlamūna ʿilmal-yaqīn
No! If you only knew with knowledge of certainty.
لَتَرَوُنَّ الْجَحِيمَ ﴿٦﴾
Latarawunnal-jahīm
You will surely see the Hellfire.
ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّهَا عَيْنَ الْيَقِينِ ﴿٧﴾
Thumma latarawunnahā ʿaynal-yaqīn
Then you will surely see it with the eye of certainty.
ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ ﴿٨﴾
Thumma latus’alunna yawma’idhin ʿanin-naʿīm
Then you will surely be asked that Day about pleasure.
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About this surah
Competing for more and more — money, things and showing off — keeps people busy until they reach the grave. We will surely be asked about every blessing we were given.
From the hadith
ʿAbdullāh ibn ash-Shikhkhīr said he came to the Prophet ﷺ while he was reciting “Alhākumut-takāthur”, and he said: “The son of Ādam says, ‘My wealth, my wealth!’ But is anything of your wealth yours, except what you ate and used up, or wore and wore out, or gave in charity and sent ahead?”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2958 (meaning)
Tip for learning: “Kallā sawfa taʿlamūn” comes twice (ayat 3 and 4). Ayat 4, 7 and 8 begin with “Thumma” — “then”.
Qur’an text: the Uthmani text of the Noble Qur’an Encyclopedia, in the standard script; meanings: Saheeh International. Hadith are given in their meaning, with the reference. The guidance on salah follows the Hanafi school, as taught at the masjid — if you are unsure about anything, please ask the Imam.