Surah Yasin Transliteration in English
Surah Yasin (يس) is the 36th chapter of the Quran and one of the most beloved surahs in the Muslim world. Known as the “heart of the Quran,” it is recited at times of difficulty, for the sick, and on many blessed occasions. This guide gives you Arabic text, English transliteration, a faithful translation, and Tajweed pronunciation notes for the key opening verses — so you can recite it correctly from day one.
About Surah Yasin
Surah Yasin was revealed in Makkah and consists of 83 verses. Its name comes from the opening two Arabic letters — Yaa (ي) and Seen (س) — which together form the title. Like all the Huruf Muqatta'at (detached letter openers), their precise meaning is known only to Allah.
The surah covers the core themes of Quranic theology: the truth of prophethood, the certainty of resurrection and accountability, the signs of Allah's power in creation, and the consequences of rejecting guidance. It tells the story of the Companions of the Town (As-haabul Qaryah), offers a vivid description of the Day of Judgement, and closes with a powerful argument for the resurrection from the miracle of human creation itself.
From a Tajweed perspective, Surah Yasin is an excellent surah for practising Madd (prolongation rules), Idgham (merging), and Ghunnah (nasalisation) — all three appear frequently in the opening verses alone.
Opening Verses (1–12) — Verse by Verse
The first 12 verses establish the divine authority of the Quran and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). They are among the most recited verses of the surah and contain a rich variety of Tajweed rules. Work through each verse slowly before moving on.
يس
Yaa-Seen
“Ya, Seen.”
Tajweed Note
These are Huruf Muqatta'at — detached letters whose full meaning is known only to Allah. Recite each letter separately: "Yaa" (2-count Madd) then "Seen" (3-count Madd on the ee). Do not rush these letters.
وَالْقُرْآنِ الْحَكِيمِ
Wal-Qur-aanil-Hakeem
“By the wise Quran.”
Tajweed Note
"Qur-aan" contains a 2-count Madd Tabee'ee on the alif. "Hakeem" ends with a 2-count prolongation. The Qaf (ق) is pronounced deep in the throat — not like a regular K.
إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
Innaka laminal-mursaleen
“Indeed you, [O Muhammad], are from among the messengers,”
Tajweed Note
"Innaka" — the Noon has a shaddah (doubled N) due to Idgham rules. "Mursaleen" ends with a 2-count Madd. The Lam-Alif in "laminal" flows smoothly without a pause.
عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Alaa siraatim-mustaqeem
“On a straight path.”
Tajweed Note
The 'Ayn (ع) at the start of "Alaa" is a light throat constriction. The Sad (ص) in "siraat" is emphatic — round your lips slightly. "Mustaqeem" ends with a 2-count Madd.
تَنزِيلَ الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ
Tanzeelal-'Azeezir-Raheem
“[This is] a revelation of the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,”
Tajweed Note
"Tanzeela" — the Noon merges into the Zay (Idgham). "'Azeezi" has a 2-count Madd on the ee. "Raheem" ends with a 2-count prolongation. The Ra (ر) in "Raheem" is light here.
لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّا أُنذِرَ آبَاؤُهُمْ فَهُمْ غَافِلُونَ
Litundhira qawmam-maa undhira aabaaa'uhum fahum ghaafiloon
“That you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are unaware.”
Tajweed Note
"Qawmam-maa" — the tanween on "qawmam" merges into the following Meem (Idgham with Ghunnah — a nasal 2-count). "Aabaaa'uhum" begins with a 4-count Madd. "Ghaafiloon" ends with a 2-count prolongation.
لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَىٰ أَكْثَرِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Laqad haqqal-qawlu 'alaaa aksarihim fahum laa yu'minoon
“Already the word has come into effect upon most of them, so they do not believe.”
Tajweed Note
"Haqqal" — the doubled Qaf (قّ) has a shaddah, hold the sound firmly. "Laa" has a 2-count Madd. "Yu'minoon" — the hamzah after the Yaa is a soft glottal onset, not a hard stop.
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ أَغْلَالًا فَهِيَ إِلَى الْأَذْقَانِ فَهُم مُّقْمَحُونَ
Innaa ja'alnaa feee a'naaqihim aghlaalaan fahiya ilal-adhqaani fahum-muqmahoon
“Indeed, We have put shackles on their necks, and they are to their chins, so they are with heads [kept] aloft.”
Tajweed Note
"Innaa" — 2-count Madd on both aa sounds. "A'naaq" — the 'Ayn (ع) is a soft throat sound. "Aghlaalaan" — 2-count Madd on the first aa, then tanween at the end nasalises into a 2-count Ghunnah.
وَجَعَلْنَا مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَاهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ
Wa ja'alnaa mim bayni aydeehim saddaw-wa min khalfihim saddan fa-aghshaynaahum fahum laa yubsiroon
“And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see.”
Tajweed Note
"Mim bayni" — the Meem before the Baa takes an Ikhfaa (light nasalisation, 2-count). "Saddaw-wa" — tanween on "saddan" flows into the following waw. "Laa" has a 2-count Madd.
وَسَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Wa sawaaa'un 'alayhim a-andhartahum am lam tundhirhum laa yu'minoon
“And it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them — they will not believe.”
Tajweed Note
"Sawaaa'un" — 4-count Madd before the hamzah. "A-andhartahum" — two hamzahs together: the first is a question marker, the second begins "andhartahum". Recite them distinctly but smoothly.
إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الذِّكْرَ وَخَشِيَ الرَّحْمَٰنَ بِالْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَأَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ
Innamaa tundhiru manit-taba'adh-dhikra wa khashiyar-Rahmaana bil-ghaybi fabashshirhu bi-maghfiratinw-wa ajrin kareem
“You can only warn one who follows the reminder and fears the Most Merciful unseen. So give him good tidings of forgiveness and a noble reward.”
Tajweed Note
"Innamaa" — 2-count Madd. "Taba'adh-dhikra" — the Taa merges into the Dhaal (Idgham). "Rahmaana" — 2-count Madd on the first aa, then 4-count Madd before the hamzah. "Bashshir" — the doubled Sheen has a shaddah.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ
Innaa nahnu nuhyil-mawtaa wa naktubu maa qaddamoo wa aathaarahum wa kulla shay'in ahsaynaahu feee imaamim-mubeen
“Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.”
Tajweed Note
"Innaa nahnu" — 2-count Madd on both aa sounds. "Mawtaa" — Alif Maqsura at the end softens into an aa sound. "Aathaarahum" — 2-count Madd. "Imaamim-mubeen" — tanween on "imaam" takes Idgham with Ghunnah into the Meem.
Key Verses to Know
While the full surah rewards careful reading, a few verses are especially well-known and frequently quoted. Here are three highlights with their transliterations.
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Subhaanal-ladhee khalaqal-azwaaja kullahaa mimmaa tumbitul-ardu wa min anfusihim wa mimmaa laa ya'lamoon
“Exalted is He who created all pairs — from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know.”
Tajweed Note
“Subhaana” — 2-count Madd on the aa. “Mimmaa” — the Meem takes a 2-count Ghunnah (nasal). “Tumbitu” — the Noon in “min” takes an Ikhfaa before the Taa (light nasalisation). “Laa ya'lamoon” — end with a 2-count prolongation.
سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِّن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ
Salaamun qawlam-mir-Rabbi Raheem
“[And] Peace — a word from a Merciful Lord.”
Tajweed Note
“Salaamun” — 2-count Madd, then tanween. “Qawlam-mir-Rabbi” — the tanween on “qawlam” takes Idgham with Ghunnah into the Meem (2-count nasal). The doubled Ra (رّ) in “Rabbin Raheem” is a heavy, emphatic sound.
إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Innamaaa amruhooo idhaa araada shay'an ay-yaqoola lahoo kun fayakoon
“His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
Tajweed Note
“Innamaaa” — 4-count Madd before the hamzah. “Shay'an” — the hamzah is a clean glottal stop. “Kun fayakoon” — the Noon of “kun” takes Ikhfaa before the Faa (light nasal). “Yakoon” ends with a 2-count Madd.
Pronunciation Tips for Surah Yasin
The Huruf Muqatta'at (يس)
The opening “Yaa-Seen” are two isolated letters, not a word. The Yaa (ي) is held for a 2-count Madd. The Seen (س) is held for a 3-count Madd on the “ee” vowel (Madd Muttasil). Pause briefly between them. Many beginners rush these letters — resist that urge and let each one sound complete.
Idgham throughout the surah
Surah Yasin has a high density of Idgham (merging of Noon Sakinah or Tanween into the following letter). Whenever you see a Noon with a sukoon or tanween followed by the letters Yaa, Noon, Meem, Waw, Lam, or Ra — let the Noon dissolve into the next letter with a 2-count Ghunnah (nasal hum). This is one of the most noticeable features of correct Yasin recitation.
Emphatic letters (Tafkheem)
Several emphatic letters appear in this surah, including Sad (ص) in “siraat” (verse 4) and Dhaad (ض) in various later verses. When you see these letters, round your lips slightly and produce the sound from deeper in the mouth. The colour-coded reader marks these rules with visual cues — use page 883 in the full reader to see them in context.
Tips for memorising the opening
The first 12 verses flow naturally as a unit. Verses 1–5 form a short oath and affirmation; verses 6–10 describe the condition of those who reject the message; verses 11–12 return to the believers with a promise of reward. Learning these three groups separately before connecting them makes memorisation significantly easier. Recite each group three times in a row before moving on.
How to Read Surah Yasin Step by Step
- 1
Start with the Basmalah
Begin with Bismillahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). All surahs except Surah At-Tawbah (9) open with this phrase.
- 2
Recite the Huruf Muqatta'at slowly
Say "Yaa-Seen" as two separate letters. Do not rush. Each letter is held for its full Madd count. This sets the tone for the entire surah.
- 3
Pause at verse ends where marked
The Mushaf marks recommended pause points. When learning, pause at the end of every verse until you build fluency. This helps your brain segment the meaning.
- 4
Apply Madd rules throughout
Yasin is full of long vowels. Every "aa," "ee," and "oo" that appears before a hamzah or sukoon is held for the appropriate Madd count. The colour-coded reader highlights these in a distinct colour.
- 5
Use the full reader for colour-coded guidance
The transliteration guide here gives you the text — the full reader at page 883 shows you the Tajweed colours in real time. Use both together for the best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verses does Surah Yasin have?
Surah Yasin has 83 verses (ayat). It is the 36th surah of the Quran, a Meccan surah revealed before the Hijra. Its verses range from very short (verse 1 is just two letters) to quite long (verse 8 is one of the longer ayat in the surah).
Why is Surah Yasin called the heart of the Quran?
The title “Qalb al-Quran” (heart of the Quran) comes from a hadith narrated by At-Tirmidhi. Scholars interpret this to mean that Surah Yasin concentrates the core themes of the entire Quran — the reality of prophethood, the certainty of resurrection, the signs of divine power in creation, and the ultimate accountability of every soul. It is a surah that moves the heart as much as it informs the mind.
What is the correct transliteration of “Ya-Sin”?
The opening letters are two separate Arabic letters: Yaa (ي) and Seen (س). Each is recited as a full letter name with its own Madd. “Yaa” carries a 2-count Madd and “Seen” carries a 3-count Madd on the “ee” sound before the final Noon. Do not merge them — there is a brief pause between the two letters.
On which page does Surah Yasin start?
Surah Yasin begins on page 883 of the standard Madani Mushaf (15-line edition). You can jump directly to it using the reader at tajweedtranslit.com or via the surah navigation in the sidebar. The surah spans pages 883 to 894.
Ready to read Surah Yasin with Tajweed colour coding? Open the full reader and navigate to page 883 — every rule you've learned here is highlighted in real time.
Read Surah Yasin — Page 883Free, no account required, colour-coded Tajweed