How to Memorise Surah Ar-Rahman, Section by Section
The easiest way to memorise Surah Ar-Rahman is to use its structure. The refrain "So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?" appears 31 times, so the real task is learning the verses between each refrain. Split the surah into four sections, memorise one at a time, and link them as you go.
Key Takeaways
- Surah Ar-Rahman is the 55th surah, with 78 verses across about four pages of the standard mushaf.
- Its refrain, "So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?", appears 31 times, first at verse 13 and last at verse 77.
- Because the refrain repeats, the real challenge is remembering which verses come between each one.
- Splitting the surah into four themed sections makes it far easier to keep everything in order.
- Understanding the meaning of each section is one of the best ways to avoid mixing up the verses.
Surah Ar-Rahman at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Surah number | 55 |
| Meaning of the name | The Most Merciful |
| Number of verses | 78 |
| Pages | 531 to 534 of the standard Madani mushaf |
| Refrain | Appears 31 times, from verse 13 to verse 77 |
| Revealed in | Classified as Madani on quran.com, though scholars have differed on this |
The Refrain
| Part | Refrain |
|---|---|
| Arabic | فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ |
| Transliteration | Fa-bi-ayyi ala'i rabbikuma tukadhdhiban |
| Translation | "So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?" (Ar-Rahman, 55:13, Sahih International) |
Once you know the refrain, around 31 of the surah's 78 verses are already memorised. What remains is learning the verses in between, and in which order they fall.
Four Sections to Memorise
| Section | Verses | Landmark to remember |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Blessings of creation | 1-25 | Opens with "The Most Merciful, Taught the Qur'an" |
| 2. Everything will perish | 26-45 | Begins "Everyone upon it [i.e., the earth] will perish" |
| 3. Two gardens | 46-61 | Begins "But for he who has feared the position of his Lord are two gardens" |
| 4. Two further gardens | 62-78 | Begins "And below them both [in excellence] are two [other] gardens" |
These are study sections to help memorisation rather than an official division, and the translations quoted are Sahih International, from 55:1-2, 55:26, 55:46 and 55:62.
Step by Step
- Learn the refrain perfectly first, with correct Tajweed, since it repeats 31 times.
- Read the translation of section 1, so you know the order of the blessings it lists.
- Memorise section 1 a few verses at a time, treating each refrain as a checkpoint.
- Recite the whole section daily until it flows, then move to section 2.
- Link sections as you go, reciting from verse 1 to the end of your newest section.
- Give sections 3 and 4 extra attention, since their descriptions of the gardens are similar and easy to mix up.
Avoiding Mix-Ups
The most common mistake in Ar-Rahman is jumping to the wrong set of verses after a refrain, because the refrain gives no clue about what comes next. Knowing the meaning of each section, and the first word after each refrain, solves most of this. Our guide to memorising an ayah quickly covers similar-verse mix-ups, and our guide to memorising a page of the Quran shows how to chunk and link pages.
If you're also working on Juz 29, our guide to Surah Al-Mulk is a good companion.
Memorise Ar-Rahman with a Teacher
Ar-Rahman's rhythm makes Tajweed especially important, from the elongations in the refrain to the ghunnah throughout. Our Hifz programme and Tajweed course are taught one-to-one by qualified teachers. You can book a free trial lesson with no card required, or call +44 7848 496686.
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