Memorizing Surah Yaseen(سورہ يٰسٓ): Tips and Benefits

Surah Yaseen is one of those surahs which are most frequently recited in the muslim world. It is recited daily, most importantly after fajr nimaz, on Fridays and other Holy occasions. In many of the muslim countries reciting sessions are held in mosques and homes.

Therefore this surah should be learned by heart in order to get the most benefit from it. In this article, I will guide you through ‘’ Memorizing Surah Yaseen, tips, methods, and advantages of memorization.

There are different techniques and methods recommended by Huffaz e kiram to learn surah yaseen by heart. They include some general methods as well as techniques peculiar to the words and ayats of the surah. Some of the most prominent and easy-to-apply methods are as follows.

Daily recitation of surah yasin is very important to memorize its ayats or learn the entire chapter by heart. In this regard, the morning time is valuable for its peaceful and blessed nature. The mind at that moment is free of anxiety and thoughts. Therefore in Quran Allah SWT says:

“Observe the prayer from the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and the dawn prayer, for certainly the dawn prayer is witnessed by angels” Surah Al-Isra [17:78]

One of the major techniques and methods for memorizing is to listen to it daily with tajweed.

Tajweed: It is to recite the words and ayats(verses) of the Quran with proper and standard pronunciation as recommended by Huffaz.

Listening to the recitation of the most prominent reciters to get inspiration and learn the correct way of recitation. It will offer a great spiritual blessing and energy to memorize it with great ease and comfort.

The most important and generic method of memorizing surah yaseen is targeting Mutashabihat. Mutashibihat are those words and phrases which is the same or resemble in morphology and phonology. This method is very popular from Huffaz all over the world.

In surah yaseen, there is a repetition of certain words and phrases throughout the surah. Understanding and recalling these words and phrases and their meanings contextually will certainly help you in memorizing the surah.

To understand the similarity between words, phrases, and ayats and to improve memorization, we will have to know the incremental method. In this method, we will observe certain ayats starting or ending with similar words that are added with additional words/letters which changes the context or meaning. Here is a list of examples to understand this concept.

Example 1

إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمُ ٱثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍۢ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ إِلَيْكُم مُّرْسَلُونَ

We sent them two messengers, but they rejected both. So We reinforced ˹the two˺ with a third, and they declared, “We have indeed been sent to you ˹as messengers˺.” — ” 36:14 ”

” Mursaloon ”

قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّآ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ

The messengers responded, “Our Lord knows that we have truly been sent to you. — ” 36:16 ”

“La-mursaloon”

In the above couple of  Ayats the word’’”mursaloon’’’ is used. Both of the verses are ending with the said word. The difference between the two is that in the first case, there is a focus on its meaning but not on the other.

Example 2

ءَأَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً إِن يُرِدْنِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ بِضُرٍّۢ لَّا تُغْنِ عَنِّى شَفَـٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا يُنقِذُونِ

” How could I take besides Him other gods whose intercession would not be of any benefit to me, nor could they save me if the Most Compassionate intended to harm me”? — ” 36:23 ”

إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمُ ٱثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍۢ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ إِلَيْكُم مُّرْسَلُونَ

“wa la yunqidhoon”

وَإِن نَّشَأْ نُغْرِقْهُمْ فَلَا صَرِيخَ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنقَذُونَ

If We willed, We could drown them: then no one would respond to their cries, nor would they be rescued —‘ ” 36:43 ”

“wa la hum yunqadhoon”

If you read the meaning/translation of the above verses 23, and 43, there is a use of increment also which is the point memory trigger.

Example 3

إِن كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ فَإِذَا هُمْ خَـٰمِدُونَ

All it took was one ˹mighty˺ blast, and they were extinguished at once. — ”36:29 ”

“fa idha hum khamidoon”

إِن كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ فَإِذَا هُمْ جَمِيعٌۭ لَّدَيْنَا مُحْضَرُونَ

It will only take one Blast, then at once they will all be brought before Us. — ” 36:53 ”

“fa idha hum jamee’ul ladaynaa muhdaroon”

It will only take one Blast, then at once they will all be brought before Us. — ” 36:53 ”

Again in the above ayats, there is incremental use between the two, in bringing the connection between them. In the first ayat, the phrase refers to the blast happening in the world wiping out the sinners, but in the second ayat, the blast will take place hereafter which will make the people appear before the Lord in Akhirah.

Example 4

أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْقُرُونِ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ

Have the deniers not considered how many peoples We destroyed before them who never came back to life again? — ” 36:31 ”

“alam ya row kam”

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَآ أَنْعَـٰمًۭا فَهُمْ لَهَا مَـٰلِكُونَ

Do they not see that We singlehandedly created for them, among other things, cattle which are under their control? — ” 36:71 ”

“alam ya row annaa”

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Do people not see that We have created them from a sperm-drop, then—behold!—they openly challenge ˹Us˺? — ” 36:77 ”

“alam yaral insaanu annaa”

In these 3 ayats i.e., 31,71, and 77 there are incremental links. The first ayat refers to seeing and observing past events while the remaining two deal with thinking and seeing what are still present in this world.

The phrase āyatullahum’’ is used 3 times in verse number 33,37, and 77 respectively. A careful observation of these ayats will let you know their context and understanding and so in memorizing the surah. Let,s read and study them below.

By comparing them as memory hooks you can memorize them according to the mentioned points which will facilitate memorizing the entire surah.

Read for comparison:

وَءَايَةٌۭ لَّهُمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ ٱلْمَيْتَةُ أَحْيَيْنَـٰهَا وَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهَا حَبًّۭا فَمِنْهُ يَأْكُلُونَ

There is a sign for them in the dead earth: We give it life, producing grain from it for them to eat. — ” 36:33 ”

وَءَايَةٌۭ لَّهُمُ ٱلَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ

There is also a sign for them in the night: We strip from it daylight, then—behold!—they are in darkness. — ”36:37 ”

وَءَايَةٌۭ لَّهُمْ أَنَّا حَمَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلْمَشْحُونِ

Another sign for them is that We carried their ancestors ˹with Noah˺ in the fully loaded Ark, — ” 36:41 ”

Those ayats that start with the word ”Qaloo”, should be observed and recited carefully to avoid confusion. Such points are very helpful in memorizing the surah because they bring ease in learning the surah by heart.

Read the following ayats,and compare them for memorization.

قَالُوا۟ مَآ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُنَا وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ مِن شَىْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا تَكْذِبُونَ

The people replied, “You are only humans like us, and the Most Compassionate has not revealed anything. You are simply lying!” — ” 36:15 ”

قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّآ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ

The messengers responded, “Our Lord knows that we have truly been sent to you. — ” 36:16 ”

قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ ۖ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهُوا۟ لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ

The people replied, “We definitely see you as a bad omen for us. If you do not desist, we will certainly stone you ˹to death˺ and you will be touched with a painful punishment from us.” — ” 36:18 ”

قَالُوا۟ طَـٰٓئِرُكُم مَّعَكُمْ ۚ أَئِن ذُكِّرْتُم ۚ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌۭ مُّسْرِفُونَ

The messengers said, “Your bad omen lies within yourselves. Are you saying this because you are reminded ˹of the truth˺? In fact, you are a transgressing people.” — ”36:19 ”

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَا مَنۢ بَعَثَنَا مِن مَّرْقَدِنَا ۜ ۗ هَـٰذَا مَا وَعَدَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَصَدَقَ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ

They will cry, “Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of rest? This must be what the Most Compassionate warned us of; the messengers told the truth!” —” 36:52 ”

There is a special word ‘’Mubeen”’ used in ayat 12, 17, 24, 47, 60, 69, and 77 of Ya-sin Sharif. If you carefully recite the above ayats, they include 7 Mubeen with an interval. Thus, here is a tip for grouping the ayats of the surah into 7 groups by memorizing the surah through Mubeens one by One.

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا۟ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَـٰهُ فِىٓ إِمَامٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

It is certainly We Who resurrect the dead, and write what they send forth and what they leave behind. Everything is listed by Us in a perfect Record. — ‘ ”36:12 z”

وَمَا عَلَيْنَآ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ

And our duty is only to deliver ˹the message˺ clearly.” — ‘’36:17c”

إِنِّىٓ إِذًۭا لَّفِى ضَلَـٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍ

Indeed, I would then be clearly astray. — ” 36:24 ”

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَنُطْعِمُ مَن لَّوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ أَطْعَمَهُۥٓ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

And when it is said to them, “Donate from what Allah has provided for you,” the disbelievers say to the believers, “Why should we feed those whom Allah could have fed if He wanted to? You are clearly astray!” ‘’36:47c’‘

لَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا۟ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Did I not command you, O  Children of Adam, not to follow Satan, for he is truly your sworn enemy, — ” 36:60 ”

وَمَا عَلَّمْنَـٰهُ ٱلشِّعْرَ وَمَا يَنۢبَغِى لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ وَقُرْءَانٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

We have not taught him poetry, nor is it fitting for him. This ˹Book˺ is only a Reminder and a clear Quran —’‘ 36:69 ”

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ

Do people not see that We have created them from a sperm-drop, then—behold!—they openly challenge ˹Us˺? — ”36:77 ”

 The words ‘’Mursaleen’’ and ‘’Murasaloona’’ are used about 6 times in the surah. These two words do not differ in meaning but in the use of grammar. Both of them are used for’’Messengers’’.One may be a subject and the other is the object in a sentence. In short, if you are proficient in Arabic you can easily overcome how the ending sounds ’’’oona’’ and ‘’eena’’ make a difference.

For deeper analysis and understanding read or recite the ayats containing ‘’mursaloona’’ and ‘’Mursaleena’’

إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

You ˹O Prophet˺ are truly one of the messengers — ” 36:3 ”

وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا أَصْحَـٰبَ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَآءَهَا ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ

Give them an example ˹O Prophet˺ of the residents of a town, when the messengers came to them. — ”36:13 ”

إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمُ ٱثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍۢ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ إِلَيْكُم مُّرْسَلُونَ

We sent them two messengers, but they rejected both. So We reinforced ˹the two˺ with a third, and they declared, “We have indeed been sent to you ˹as messengers˺.” — ” 36:14 ”

قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّآ إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ

The messengers responded, “Our Lord knows that we have truly been sent to you. — ” 36:16 ”

وَجَآءَ مِنْ أَقْصَا ٱلْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌۭ يَسْعَىٰ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

Then from the farthest end of the city a man came, rushing. He advised, “O my people! Follow the messengers. — ”36:20 ”

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَا مَنۢ بَعَثَنَا مِن مَّرْقَدِنَا ۜ ۗ هَـٰذَا مَا وَعَدَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَصَدَقَ ٱلْمُرْسَلُونَ

They will cry, “Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of rest? This must be what the Most Compassionate warned us of; the messengers told the truth!” — ” 36:52 ”

You may use your own memory triggers by applying different techniques and methods. But the fact remains that incremental links exist in the above verses therefore applying this technique can help you in learning the surah by heart.

It is also recommended to categorize the surah on the basis of important events and topics and start memorizing them one by one. We may divide them into sections as follows.

For effective memorization, another technique which is called breakdown of the surah into smaller sections, is very important. This is the method that I have personally applied with success. Here are some points in this regard which will you learn the surah by heart.

This technique is the most common among traditional learners. It offers a great insight into memorizing the surah when you face confusion about which ayat is the next one. By targeting or memorizing the first word of each ayat you can recall the entire ayat which must have been recited several times.

Conclusion

Memorizing Surah Yaseen is a great spiritual practice with a huge reward in Jannah. It is highly beneficial too. The methods and techniques like reciting in fajr, using incremental links, listening to its ayats with tajweed, and breaking down the surah into small groups are very beneficial.

  These are extremely handy tips for memorizing surah Yaseen. If you keep practicing the above methods and techniques, you can easily memorize Yasin Shareef within a week or in 4 to 5 days. So let’s start learning the surah by heart and bless ourselves.