Maktab QuranSurah Al-Mursalat is built on the Quran's most relentless refrain: 'Woe that Day to the deniers' — ten times across fifty racing ayahs. Umm al-Fadl bint al-Harith heard the Prophet ﷺ recite it in Maghrib in his final illness and said it was the last she heard him recite in prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Between the refrains: the winds sent forth, the Day of Sorting, destroyed nations, creation from despised water, and the shade of three columns that neither shades nor avails against the flame.
Surah Al-Mursalat is the 77th chapter of the Qur'an, a Meccan surah of 50 verses. It opens with five oaths and then affirms that what is promised will occur. Its most distinctive feature is a refrain — “Woe, that Day, to the deniers” — which recurs ten times and divides the surah into sections.
Surah Al-Mursalat at a glance
| Surah number | 77 of 114 |
|---|---|
| Arabic name | سُورَةُ المُرۡسَلَاتِ |
| Name in English | Al-Mursalat — “The Emissaries” |
| Verses (ayahs) | 50 |
| Revealed in | Makkah |
| Juz | 29 |
| Length in the Mushaf | about 2 pages |
The oaths and the promise
The surah opens by swearing by those sent forth in gusts, those that blow violently, those that spread, those that bring criterion and those that deliver a message as justification or warning — then states that what you are promised is to occur. It describes the stars obliterated, the heaven opened, the mountains blown away, and asks for what Day this was postponed: the Day of Judgment.
The refrain
“Woe, that Day, to the deniers” recurs after each section. Between the repetitions the surah asks a series of questions from the created order: were the former peoples not destroyed; were you not created from a liquid disdained and placed in a firm lodging; was the earth not made a container of the living and the dead, with firm mountains and sweet water.
Two destinations
The later sections describe the deniers proceeding to a shadow of smoke with three columns that gives no cool shade, throwing sparks like a fortress; a Day on which they will not speak and will not be permitted to excuse themselves. Against that it sets the righteous among shades and springs and fruit, told to eat and drink in satisfaction for what they used to do.
Read Surah Al-Mursalat 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 Al-Mursalat (Mishary Al-Afasy)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلْمُرْسَلَٰتِ عُرْفًۭا
Wal mursalaati'urfaa
By those [winds] sent forth in gusts
فَٱلْعَٰصِفَٰتِ عَصْفًۭا
Fal'aasifaati 'asfaa
And the winds that blow violently
وَٱلنَّٰشِرَٰتِ نَشْرًۭا
Wannaashiraati nashraa
And [by] the winds that spread [clouds]
فَٱلْفَٰرِقَٰتِ فَرْقًۭا
Falfaariqaati farqaa
And those [angels] who bring criterion
فَٱلْمُلْقِيَٰتِ ذِكْرًا
Falmulqiyaati zikra
And those [angels] who deliver a message
عُذْرًا أَوْ نُذْرًا
'Uzran aw nuzraa
As justification or warning,
إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَوَٰقِعٌۭ
Innamaa too'adoona lawaaqi'
Indeed, what you are promised is to occur.
فَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ طُمِسَتْ
Fa izam nujoomu tumisat
So when the stars are obliterated
وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ فُرِجَتْ
Wa izas samaaa'u furijat
And when the heaven is opened
وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ نُسِفَتْ
Wa izal jibaalu nusifat
And when the mountains are blown away
وَإِذَا ٱلرُّسُلُ أُقِّتَتْ
Wa izar Rusulu uqqitat
And when the messengers' time has come...
لِأَىِّ يَوْمٍ أُجِّلَتْ
Li ayyi yawmin ujjilat
For what Day was it postponed?
لِيَوْمِ ٱلْفَصْلِ
Li yawmil Fasl
For the Day of Judgement.
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا يَوْمُ ٱلْفَصْلِ
Wa maaa adraaka maa yawmul fasl
And what can make you know what is the Day of Judgement?
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailuny yawma 'izillilmukazzibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
أَلَمْ نُهْلِكِ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Alam nuhlikil awwaleen
Did We not destroy the former peoples?
ثُمَّ نُتْبِعُهُمُ ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ
Summa nutbi'uhumul aakhireen
Then We will follow them with the later ones.
كَذَٰلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
Kazzlika naf'alu bilmujrimeen
Thus do We deal with the criminals.
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailunw yawma 'izil lil mukazzibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
أَلَمْ نَخْلُقكُّم مِّن مَّآءٍۢ مَّهِينٍۢ
Alam nakhlukkum mimmaaa'im maheen
Did We not create you from a liquid disdained?
فَجَعَلْنَٰهُ فِى قَرَارٍۢ مَّكِينٍ
Faja'alnaahu fee qaraarim makeen
And We placed it in a firm lodging
إِلَىٰ قَدَرٍۢ مَّعْلُومٍۢ
Illaa qadrim ma'loom
For a known extent.
فَقَدَرْنَا فَنِعْمَ ٱلْقَٰدِرُونَ
Faqadarnaa fani'mal qaadiroon
And We determined [it], and excellent [are We] to determine.
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailuny yawma 'izil lilmukazzibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ كِفَاتًا
Alam naj'alil arda kifaataa
Have We not made the earth a container
أَحْيَآءًۭ وَأَمْوَٰتًۭا
Ahyaaa'anw wa amwaataa
Of the living and the dead?
وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ شَٰمِخَٰتٍۢ وَأَسْقَيْنَٰكُم مَّآءًۭ فُرَاتًۭا
Wa ja'alnaa feehaa rawaasiya shaamikhaatinw wa asqainaakum maaa'an furaataa
And We placed therein lofty, firmly set mountains and have given you to drink sweet water.
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailuny yawma 'izil lilmukazzibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
ٱنطَلِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ
Intaliqooo ilaa maa kuntum bihee tukazziboon
[They will be told], "Proceed to that which you used to deny.
ٱنطَلِقُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ ظِلٍّۢ ذِى ثَلَٰثِ شُعَبٍۢ
Intaliqooo ilaa zillin zee salaasi shu'ab
Proceed to a shadow [of smoke] having three columns
لَّا ظَلِيلٍۢ وَلَا يُغْنِى مِنَ ٱللَّهَبِ
Laa zaleelinw wa laa yughnee minal lahab
[But having] no cool shade and availing not against the flame."
إِنَّهَا تَرْمِى بِشَرَرٍۢ كَٱلْقَصْرِ
Innahaa tarmee bishararin kalqasr
Indeed, it throws sparks [as huge] as a fortress,
كَأَنَّهُۥ جِمَٰلَتٌۭ صُفْرٌۭ
Ka annahoo jimaalatun sufr
As if they were yellowish [black] camels.
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailuny yawma 'izil lilmukazibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
هَٰذَا يَوْمُ لَا يَنطِقُونَ
Haazaa yawmu laa uantiqoon
This is a Day they will not speak,
وَلَا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمْ فَيَعْتَذِرُونَ
Wa laa yu'zanu lahum fa ya'taziroon
Nor will it be permitted for them to make an excuse.
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailunw yawma 'izil lilmukazzibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
هَٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْفَصْلِ ۖ جَمَعْنَٰكُمْ وَٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Haaza yawmul fasli jama 'naakum wal awwaleen
This is the Day of Judgement; We will have assembled you and the former peoples.
فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ كَيْدٌۭ فَكِيدُونِ
Fa in kaana lakum kaidun fakeedoon
So if you have a plan, then plan against Me.
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailuny yawma'izil lilmukazzibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى ظِلَٰلٍۢ وَعُيُونٍۢ
Innal muttaqeena fee zilaalinw wa 'uyoon
Indeed, the righteous will be among shades and springs
وَفَوَٰكِهَ مِمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
Wa fawaakiha mimmaa yastahoon
And fruits from whatever they desire,
كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ هَنِيٓـًٔۢا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Kuloo washraboo haneee 'am bimaa kuntum ta'maloon
[Being told], "Eat and drink in satisfaction for what you used to do."
إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
Innaa kazaalika najzil muhsineen
Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailuny yawma 'izil lilmuzkazzibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
كُلُوا۟ وَتَمَتَّعُوا۟ قَلِيلًا إِنَّكُم مُّجْرِمُونَ
Kuloo wa tamatta'oo qaleelan innakum mujrimoon
[O disbelievers], eat and enjoy yourselves a little; indeed, you are criminals.
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailunny yawma 'izil lilmukazzibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱرْكَعُوا۟ لَا يَرْكَعُونَ
Wa izaa qeela lahumur ka'oo aa yarka'oon
And when it is said to them, "Bow [in prayer]," they do not bow.
وَيْلٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailunny yawma 'izil lilmukazzibeen
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
فَبِأَىِّ حَدِيثٍۭ بَعْدَهُۥ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Fabi ayyi hadeesim ba'dahoo yu'minoon
Then in what statement after the Qur'an will they believe?
Learning Surah Al-Mursalat
The tenfold refrain is the key to memorising Al-Mursalat: learn where each repetition falls and the surah divides into short, manageable blocks. Students who ignore the structure usually lose their place between repetitions.
Why memorize Surah Al-Mursalat?
Because the refrain does half the work. Like Ar-Rahman, the repeating line slices the surah into bite-size passages — most just two to four ayahs — so every few days of memorization ends on guaranteed familiar ground. Fifty ayahs that behave like twenty.
How long does Surah Al-Mursalat take to memorize?
Honest answer: it depends on your daily portion and whether someone is correcting you. Surah Al-Mursalat is about 28 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 Al-Mursalat | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed | ~3 lines | about 10 days | Busy adults, first-time memorizers |
| Steady | ~5 lines | about 6 days | Most students — the sweet spot |
| Focused | ~10 lines | about 3 days | 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 Al-Mursalat
Memorize refrain-to-refrain, treating each passage as one bead: the oath winds (1–7), the Day the stars are extinguished (8–15), the destroyed forerunners (16–19), creation from water (20–24), the earth that gathers living and dead (25–28), the three-column shade (29–34), the day none shall speak (35–37), the sorting (38–40), the righteous in shades and springs (41–45), eat and enjoy a little (46–49), and the closing challenge: then in what statement after this will they believe? (50). Keep a bead-count on your fingers while reciting — the refrain tells you a bead ended; your count tells you which comes next.
A milestone plan for Surah Al-Mursalat
At the steady pace (~5 lines a day), Surah Al-Mursalat breaks into four milestones. Print our free planner PDF and mark them off:
| Portion | New-memorization time | Cumulative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone 1 | Ayahs 1–12 | ~1 day | Day 1 |
| Milestone 2 | Ayahs 13–24 | ~1 day | Day 2 |
| Milestone 3 | Ayahs 25–36 | ~1 day | Day 3 |
| Milestone 4 | Ayahs 37–50 | ~2 days | Day 5 |
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.