How To Memorise Surah Ar-Rahman

There are 78 āyāt in Surah ar-Rahmān. 31 of them are repeated. This repetition can cause some confusion. What verse comes next? How do you deal with this?

The challenge is to be able to recall the āyah before and after the repeated āyah:

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Then which of your Lord’s favours will you both deny?
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Let's take a look at some methods.

1. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

The most common method is to simply expose yourself to the verses again and again. Listen to them on repeat.

2. Using an Acronym

To create an acronym, take the first letters of each āyah to spell a real word or a made-up word. This is a method used a lot in Egypt where they made a 31-letter combination using the first letters of every āyah after the repeated āyah:

خِرْمِي وَكِيسِي يَفَّ فِيهِ وَذَفَّ … فَمُفَكَّهٌ وَمُفَفَّفٌ حَلُمَتْ

3. Pairing or Grouping

There are two methods you can use with this.

Group the āyāt by linking, by meaning, or by triggers

• When you memorise them, memorise them in groups (especially according to the meanings and links between them).
• Memorise the repeated āyah with the āyah/āyāt after it.
• if you struggle with recalling any, create a trigger that helps you remember. This is done primarily through knowing what the verse means. So for example, the first repeated āyah comes with the creation of man and jinn. The second with the two: east and west. The third with the two seas and barrier etc.

Here's a list for the entire surah:

For many people, grouping the verses is the best method and is a method that can be used for your entire memorisation journey.

I advised a sister a few years ago to group and acronym when she struggled with the surah. Today it's her strongest and easiest surah to recall. She said:

The mixing up starts from ayat 14. Ayat 14-18 is about Allah's creation of mankind (الانسان) and jinn (جان) and Allah is the Rabb of east and west (رب المشرق). Ayat 19-25 talks about how 2 seas merge(مرج), there are pearls(لؤلؤ) and ships. Ayat 26-28 tells us everything (كل) is going to get over only Allah is eternal. For ayat 29-38 I took the first letters of each ayat (ي س ي ي ف - YASEEF. ) Ayat 39-45 talks about qiyamah, especially hell (i again took the first letters ( ف ي ه ي -FEEHE). Ayat 46-57 is about all those who fear (خاف) Allah will get Jannat and what all is there in it. Ayat 58-66 i took the first letters ( ك ه و م- KA H OO M).

Others have said, they've tried all of these methods but since they've learnt Arabic and have somewhat an understanding of the meanings, they find the grouping to be the best. The acronym method would come second to that, especially where you don't know much Arabic. I found that interesting because the acronym method is used by Arabs themselves!

Everyone has their own struggle or ease. You can use any of these methods and apply them in situations where you find yourself struggling.

May Allāh grant blessing!