Short Surahs
Formal prayer is always recited in Arabic, therefore 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
01Al Fatiha – Roman Script
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
Al Fatiha – Arabic Text
Al Fatiha – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.
The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful; Sovereign of the Day of Judgment.
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
Guide us to the straight path,
the path of those You have blessed,
not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray.
Ameen
Ayat Al-Kursi
02Ayat Al-Kursi – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Allahu laa ilaahe illaa huval-hayul-kayuum, laa ta-huthuhu sinatuv-valaa naum, lahu maa fis-samaavaati va maa fil-ard, man thal-lathii yashfa’u ’indahu illaa bi ithnih, ya’lamu maa bayna aydi-him va maa halfahum va laa yuhituna bi sheyim-min ’ilmihi illa bi maa shaa’a, vasi’a kursiyuhu ssamaavati val-ard, va laa yauduhu hifzuhuma va huval-’aliyul-’aziim.
Ayat Al-Kursi – Arabic Text
Ayat Al-Kursi – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Allah — there is no god except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Al-Asr
03Al-Asr – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Val-’asr.
Innal-insaana lafii husr.
Illal-lathiyna aamanu va ’amilu ssaalihaati va tawaasaw bil-hakki va tawasaw bis-sabr.
Al-Asr – Arabic Text
Al-Asr – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. By time, surely mankind is in loss, except those who believe, do righteous deeds, encourage one another to truth, and encourage one another to patience.
Al-Humaza
04Al-Humaza – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Vaylul-likulli humazatil-lumaza.
Allathi djama’a maalav-va ’ad-dadah.
Yahsabu anna maalahuu ahladah.
Kallaa, layumbathanna fil-hutoma.
Va maa adraaka mal-hutoma.
Naarul-laahil-muukada.
Allatii tattoli’u ’alal-af’ida.
Innahaa ’alayhim mu’soda.
Fin ’amadim-mumaddada.
Al-Humaza – Arabic Text
Al-Humaza – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Woe to every backbiter and slanderer, who gathers wealth and counts it. He thinks his wealth will make him immortal. No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher. And what will make you know what the Crusher is? It is the fire of Allah, kindled, which rises over the hearts. Indeed, it will be closed down upon them in extended columns.
Al-Fil
05Al-Fil – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Alam tara kayfa fa’ala rabbuka bi ashaabil-fiil.
Alam yaj’al kaydahum fii tadliil.
Wa arsala ’alayhim tayran abaabiil.
Tarmiihim bihijaaratim-min sijjiil.
Fa ja’alahum ka’asfim-ma’kuul.
Al-Fil – Arabic Text
Al-Fil – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant? Did He not make their plan go astray? He sent against them birds in flocks, striking them with stones of baked clay, and made them like eaten straw.
Al-Quraysh
06Al-Quraysh – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Li-eelaafi quraysh.
Eelaafihim rihlatash-shitaa’i was-sayf.
Falya’budoo rabba haadhal-bayt.
Alladhee at’amahum min joo’in wa aamanahum min khawf.
Al-Quraysh – Arabic Text
Al-Quraysh – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. For the accustomed security of Quraysh, their accustomed security in the journeys of winter and summer, let them worship the Lord of this House, Who fed them against hunger and secured them from fear.
Al-Ma’un
07Al-Ma’un – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Ara’aytalladhee yukadhdhibu bid-deen.
Fadhaalikalladhee yadu’ul-yateem.
Wa laa yahuddu ’alaa ta’aamil-miskeen.
Fawaylul-lilmusalleen.
Alladheena hum ’an salaatihim saahoon.
Alladheena hum yuraa’oon.
Wa yamna’oonal-maa’oon.
Al-Ma’un – Arabic Text
Al-Ma’un – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Have you seen the one who denies the Recompense? That is the one who repulses the orphan and does not encourage feeding the poor. So woe to those who pray, yet are heedless of their prayer, those who show off, and withhold small kindnesses.
Al-Kafiroon
08Al-Kafiroon – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Qul ya ayyuhal-kaafiroon.
Laa a’budu maa ta’budoon.
Wa laa antum ’aabidoona maa a’bud.
Wa laa ana ’aabidum-maa ’abadtum.
Wa laa antum ’aabidoona maa a’bud.
Lakum deenukum wa liya deen.
Al-Kafiroon – Arabic Text
Al-Kafiroon – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Say: O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. I will not worship what you worship, nor will you worship what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.
An-Nasr
09An-Nasr – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Iza jaa’a nasrullahi wal-fath.
Wa ra’aytan-naasa yadkhuloona fee deenillahi afwaaja.
Fasabbih bihamdi rabbika wastaghfirh.
Innahu kaana tawwaaba.
An-Nasr – Arabic Text
An-Nasr – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. When the help of Allah and victory come, and you see people entering Allah’s religion in crowds, then glorify the praises of your Lord and seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.
Al-Masad
10Al-Masad – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Tabbat yadaa abee lahabiu wa tabb.
Maa aghna ’anhu maaluhu wa maa kasab.
Sayasla naaran dhaata lahab.
Wamra’atuhu hammaa latal-hatab.
Fee jeedihaa hablum mim-masad.
Al-Masad – Arabic Text
Al-Masad – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. His wealth and what he gained will not benefit him. He will burn in a fire of flame, and his wife, the carrier of firewood, will have around her neck a rope of palm-fiber.
Al-Ikhlas
11Al-Ikhlas – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Qul huwallahu ahad.
Allahus-samad.
Lam yalid wa lam yoolad.
Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
Al-Ikhlas – Arabic Text
Al-Ikhlas – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, and there is none comparable to Him.
Al-Falaq
12Al-Falaq – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Qul a’oodhu bi rabbil-falaq.
Min sharri maa khalaq.
Wa min sharri ghaasiqin idhaa waqab.
Wa min sharrin-naffaathaati fil-’uqad.
Wa min sharri haasidin idhaa hasad.
Al-Falaq – Arabic Text
Al-Falaq – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of what He created, from the evil of darkness when it settles, from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.
Al-Naas
13Al-Naas – Roman Script
Bismillah ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem Qul a’oodhu bi rabbin-naas.
Malikin-naas.
Ilaahin-naas.
Min sharril-waswaasil-khannaas.
Alladhee yuwaswisu fee sudoorin-naas.
Minal-jinnati wan-naas.
Al-Naas – Arabic Text
Al-Naas – Translation / Interpretation
Translation / Interpretation
In the name of Allah (God), The Most Compassionate, the 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, from among jinn and mankind.