Surah Maryam carries one of the great moments of Islamic history: when the persecuted Muslims fled to Abyssinia, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib recited its opening to the Christian king an-Najashi — and the king wept until his beard was wet, as the famous sirah account relates. Its 98 ayahs move through Zakariya's whispered dua, the miracle birth of Yahya, Maryam's story and the birth of Isa, then Ibrahim's gentleness with his father — prophet after prophet, each introduced with the refrain 'And mention in the Book…'.
Surah Maryam is the 19th chapter of the Qur'an, a Meccan surah of 98 verses named after Maryam (Mary), the mother of 'Isa. It opens with Zechariah's private supplication for an heir, moves to Maryam and the birth of 'Isa, and then names a series of prophets, each introduced with “and mention in the Book”.
Surah Maryam at a glance
| Surah number | 19 of 114 |
|---|---|
| Arabic name | سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ |
| Name in English | Maryam — “Mary” |
| Verses (ayahs) | 98 |
| Revealed in | Makkah |
| Juz | 16 |
| Length in the Mushaf | about 8 pages |
Zechariah's supplication
The surah opens as a mention of the mercy of the Lord to His servant Zechariah, who called on Him privately — saying his bones had weakened and his head filled with white, and asking for an heir. He is given tidings of a boy named Yahya (John).
Maryam
It then relates Maryam withdrawing from her family, the angel appearing to her, her response, the birth of 'Isa under the palm tree, her return to her people, and the infant speaking in the cradle.
“And mention in the Book”
The second half introduces prophet after prophet with the same phrase — Ibrahim and his appeal to his father, Musa and Harun, Isma'il, Idris — before turning to later generations who neglected prayer, and closing on the Day when everyone comes to the Most Merciful alone, as a servant.
Surah Maryam tells of several prophets. For children, read the Prophet Zakariya, Prophet Yahya and Prophet 'Isa stories, or all of them in our stories of the prophets for kids.
Read Surah Maryam in full
The Arabic below is the Uthmani script, with a Roman transliteration to help you sound out each verse and the Sahih International English translation of the meaning. If you are learning to recite it, read the Arabic line first and use the transliteration only to check yourself — leaning on it slows real reading down.
Listen to Surah Maryam (Mishary Al-Afasy)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ كٓهيعٓصٓ
Kaaaf-Haa-Yaa-'Ayyyn-Saaad
Kaf, Ha, Ya, 'Ayn, Sad.
ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ
Zikru rahmati Rabbika 'abdahoo Zakariyya
[This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah
إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيًّۭا
Iz naadaa Rabbahoo nidaaa'an khafiyyaa
When he called to his Lord a private supplication.
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى وَهَنَ ٱلْعَظْمُ مِنِّى وَٱشْتَعَلَ ٱلرَّأْسُ شَيْبًۭا وَلَمْ أَكُنۢ بِدُعَآئِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّۭا
Qaala Rabbi innee wahanal'azmu minnee washta'alar raasu shaibanw wa lam akum bidu'aaa'ika Rabbi shaqiyyaa
He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.
وَإِنِّى خِفْتُ ٱلْمَوَٰلِىَ مِن وَرَآءِى وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا فَهَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّۭا
Wa innee khiftul mawaa liya minw waraaa'ee wa kaana tim ra atee 'aairan fahab lee mil ladunka waliyyaa
And indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been barren, so give me from Yourself an heir
يَرِثُنِى وَيَرِثُ مِنْ ءَالِ يَعْقُوبَ ۖ وَٱجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّۭا
Yarisunee wa yarisu min aali Ya'qoob, waj'alhu Rabbi radiyya
Who will inherit me and inherit from the family of Jacob. And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]."
يَٰزَكَرِيَّآ إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَٰمٍ ٱسْمُهُۥ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّۭا
Yaa Zakariyyaaa innaa nubashshiruka bighulaami nismuhoo Yahyaa lam naj'al lahoo min qablu samiyyaa
[He was told], "O Zechariah, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be John. We have not assigned to any before [this] name."
قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌۭ وَكَانَتِ ٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرًۭا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّۭا
Qaala Rabbi annaa yakoonu lee ghulaamunw wa kaanatim ra atee aaqiranw wa qad balaghtu minal kibari 'itiyyaa
He said, "My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?"
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌۭ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْـًۭٔا
Qaala kazaalika qaala Rabbuka huwa 'alaiya haiyinunw wa qad khalaqtuka min qablu wa lam taku shai'aa
[An angel] said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.' "
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةًۭ ۚ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَٰثَ لَيَالٍۢ سَوِيًّۭا
Qaala Rabbij 'al leee Aayah; qaala Aayatuka allaa tukalliman naasa salaasa layaalin sawiyyaa
[Zechariah] said, "My Lord, make for me a sign." He said, "Your sign is that you will not speak to the people for three nights, [being] sound."
فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا۟ بُكْرَةًۭ وَعَشِيًّۭا
Fakharaja 'alaa qawmihee minal mihraabi fa-awhaaa ilaihim an sabbihoo bukratanw wa 'ashiyyaa
So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon.
يَٰيَحْيَىٰ خُذِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍۢ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَٰهُ ٱلْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّۭا
Yaa Yahyaa khuzil Kitaaba biquwwatinw wa aatainaahul hukma saiyyaa
[Allah] said, "O John, take the Scripture with determination." And We gave him judgement [while yet] a boy
وَحَنَانًۭا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَوٰةًۭ ۖ وَكَانَ تَقِيًّۭا
Wa hanaanam mil ladunnaa wa zakaatanw wa kaana taqiyyaa
And affection from Us and purity, and he was fearing of Allah
وَبَرًّۢا بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّۭا
Wa barram biwaalidayhi wa lam yakum jabbaaran 'asiyyaa
And dutiful to his parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant.
وَسَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّۭا
Wa salaamun 'alaihi yawma wulida wa yawma yamootu wa yawma yub'asu haiyaa
And peace be upon him the day he was born and the day he dies and the day he is raised alive.
وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مَرْيَمَ إِذِ ٱنتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًۭا شَرْقِيًّۭا
Wazkur fil Kitaabi Marya; izin tabazat min ahlihaa makaanan shariqyyaa
And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east.
فَٱتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًۭا فَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًۭا سَوِيًّۭا
Fattakhazat min doonihim hijaaban fa arsalnaaa ilaihaa roohanaa fatamassala lahaa basharan sawiyyaa
And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.
قَالَتْ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّۭا
Qaalat inneee a'oozu bir Rahmaani minka in kunta taqiyyaa
She said, "Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah."
قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَٰمًۭا زَكِيًّۭا
Qaala innamaa ana rasoolu Rabbiki li ahaba laki ghulaaman zakiyyaa
He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy."
قَالَتْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَٰمٌۭ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌۭ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّۭا
Qaalat anna yakoonu lee ghulaamunw wa lam yamsasnee bashrunw wa lam aku baghiyyaa
She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?"
Showing the first 20 of 98 verses. Read the complete surah with translation at Quran.com.
Learning Surah Maryam
The repeated “and mention in the Book” formula makes the second half of Maryam much easier to hold than its length suggests, because each prophet's passage begins identically. The first half, being narrative, needs more careful sequencing.
Why memorize Surah Maryam?
Because it is among the most musical long surahs in the Quran. Most of its ayahs close on the same soft '-iyya' rhyme, giving the whole surah a lullaby cadence that the memory holds onto — and its stories of answered dua make it deeply consoling material to carry.
How long does Surah Maryam take to memorize?
Honest answer: it depends on your daily portion and whether someone is correcting you. Surah Maryam is about 110 lines of mushaf text. Here is what that means at three realistic paces — each assuming you also run the revision cycle (which is what makes it permanent):
| Pace | New memorization per day | Time to finish Surah Maryam | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed | ~3 lines | about 5 weeks | Busy adults, first-time memorizers |
| Steady | ~5 lines | about 3 weeks | Most students — the sweet spot |
| Focused | ~10 lines | about 2 weeks | Experienced memorizers, school holidays |
Add roughly a consolidation week at the end — the point where you can recite the whole surah to a listener without prompts. Our guide to how long the whole Quran takes uses the same arithmetic.
The smart way to memorize Surah Maryam
Use the refrain as your table of contents. 'Wadhkur fi-l-kitab' ('And mention in the Book…') opens each prophet's section — Maryam (16), Ibrahim (41), Musa (51), Ismail (54), Idris (56) — so memorize prophet by prophet, exactly as the surah is built. Learn Zakariya's opening dua (1–15) with special care; it sets the rhyme in your ear. The doctrinal passage that closes the surah (88–98) is its own final milestone. Keep one reciter throughout: the surah's melody is half your memory of it.
A milestone plan for Surah Maryam
At the steady pace (~5 lines a day), Surah Maryam breaks into four milestones. Print our free planner PDF and mark them off:
| Portion | New-memorization time | Cumulative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone 1 | Ayahs 1–24 | ~5 days | Day 5 |
| Milestone 2 | Ayahs 25–48 | ~5 days | Day 10 |
| Milestone 3 | Ayahs 49–72 | ~5 days | Day 15 |
| Milestone 4 | Ayahs 73–98 | ~6 days | Day 21 |
Use the system huffadh actually use
Every hifz institute on earth runs some version of the same engine: new lesson (sabaq), near revision (sabqi), far revision (manzil). New memorization is the easy part — the system exists to stop last month's pages dissolving while you learn this month's. It's the backbone of our structured Hifz course, and you can run it yourself with the free planner PDF.
The correction problem (and its solution)
Apps and audio can help you repeat — but they can't hear you. Memorizing alone means locking in whatever you happen to be saying, right or wrong, and un-learning a settled mistake takes longer than learning it right the first time. Our teachers listen to every ayah live on a synchronized Quran screen, fix each slip in real time, and keep your sabaq–sabqi–manzil cycle honest. Try it in a free trial lesson — no card required.