The ending of some verses can be tricky to remember because sometimes they end in a similar way to many other verses.

Some examples of frequent verse endings:

Group 1
عذابا أَلِيمًا (painful punishment)
عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا (great punishment)
عَذَابًا مُهِينًا (painful punishment)
عَذابا كَبِيرًا (big punishment)		Group 2
غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا (forgiving and merciful)
عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا (pardoning and forgiving)
عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا (mighty and wise)
حَليمًا غَفُورًا (forbearing and forgiving)
Group 3
غَفُورٌ حَلِيم (forbearing and forgiving)
غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ (forgiving and merciful)
Group 4
عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا (all knowing, all wise)
عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا (almighty, wise)
Group 5
على كل شيء وكيل Upon everything He has control
على كل شيء قدير Upon everything He is Powerful
على كل شيء حفيظ Upon everything He is a Protector
على كل شيء شهيد Upon everything He is a witness

…amongst many others

How to master these?

  1. Remember that the way the verse ends is very much related to the meaning of the verse. If Allah is talking about punishment of the disbelievers, then you know that it would be something from Group 1 rather than Group 2.
  2. Understanding the context and subtle differences through Tafsir [Example given below], you will know how to differentiate between those that come within Group 2
  3. The good old practice-makes-perfect method – recite and visually memorise the way the verses end, compare with similar endings and notice patterns. This is best if you struggle with connecting meaning when reciting from memory, and if you are at a stage where visually remembering is easier for you.

Example: The difference between عليم حكيم (All-Knowing, All-Wise) and حكيم عليم (All-Wise, All-Knowing)

  • عليم (All-Knowing) comes first when talking about knowledge and affairs of the heart that only Allah can see and have knowledge of.
    • قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ [2:32] – They replied, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are truly the All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
    • يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَيَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ [4:26] – “It is Allah’s Will to make things clear to you, guide you to the ˹noble˺ ways of those before you, and turn to you in mercy. For Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
    • لَا يَزَالُ بُنْيَـٰنُهُمُ ٱلَّذِى بَنَوْا۟ رِيبَةًۭ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَّآ أَن تَقَطَّعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ [9:110] – “The building which they erected will never cease to fuel hypocrisy in their hearts until their hearts are torn apart. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
  • حكيم (All-Wise) comes first when the verse is talking about reward, punishment, legislation, or ruling.
    • وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًۭا يَـٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ قَدِ ٱسْتَكْثَرْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ ۖ وَقَالَ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْإِنسِ رَبَّنَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ بَعْضُنَا بِبَعْضٍۢ وَبَلَغْنَآ أَجَلَنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَجَّلْتَ لَنَا ۚ قَالَ ٱلنَّارُ مَثْوَىٰكُمْ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌۭ ١٢٨ [6:128] “Consider the Day He will gather them all together and say, “O assembly of jinn! You misled humans in great numbers.” And their human associates will say, “Our Lord! We benefited from each other’s company, but now we have reached the term which You appointed for us.” Then He will say, “The Fire is your home, yours to stay in forever, except whoever Allah wills to spare.” Surely your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.”
    • وَقَالُوا۟ مَا فِى بُطُونِ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ خَالِصَةٌۭ لِّذُكُورِنَا وَمُحَرَّمٌ عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِنَا ۖ وَإِن يَكُن مَّيْتَةًۭ فَهُمْ فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ ۚ سَيَجْزِيهِمْ وَصْفَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌۭ [6:140] –
      They also say, “The offspring of this cattle is reserved for our males and forbidden to our females; but if it is stillborn, they may all share it.” He will repay them for their falsehood. Surely He is All-Wise, All-Knowing.

PARTS IN THIS SERIES

  1. Introduction
  2. Errors in Recitation
  3. Stuck on a Difficult Verse
  4. Similar Verses (المُتَشَابِهَات)
  5. Struggling to Recall How the Next Verse/Page Starts
  6. Struggling to Recalling How Verses End
  7. Forgetting
  8. Being Consistent
  9. Lack of Motivation
  10. Difficulty Focusing
  11. Not Reflecting and Understanding
  12. Reflections & Resources