🧠 Similar Verses (Mutashabihat) for Memorizers

Near-identical verses that trip up huffaz — with the difference highlighted and a memory aid.

The highlighted words show the wording that differs between the two places. Always confirm against a printed Mushaf; this tool is a study aid for memorization (hifz), not a substitute for the text.

1 · "Eat from wherever you wish"

Al-Baqarah 2:58

وَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا

Al-A'raf 7:161

وَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ

Remember: Al-Baqarah adds raghadan ("in abundance"). The longer surah carries the longer phrase.

2 · "Enter the gate prostrating and say…"

Al-Baqarah 2:58

وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَايَاكُمْ

Al-A'raf 7:161

وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطِيئَاتِكُمْ

Remember: Order flips — Baqarah is "enter… then say," A'raf is "say… then enter." Also Baqarah: khatayakum; A'raf: khati'atikum.

3 · "And fear a Day…"

Al-Baqarah 2:48

وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَلَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ

Al-Baqarah 2:123

وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَاعَةٌ

Remember: Same surah, two places. In 2:48 shafa'ah (intercession) comes first; in 2:123 'adl (ransom) comes first, and the verb changes to tanfa'uha.

4 · "Those are upon guidance…"

Al-Baqarah 2:5

أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

Luqman 31:5

أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

Remember: Identical wording in both places — so the cue is the surrounding context, not the phrase itself.

5 · "Do not spread corruption…"

Al-Baqarah 2:11

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ

Al-A'raf 7:56

وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا

Remember: Baqarah quotes the hypocrites' excuse; A'raf is a direct command "after its reform." Tie each to its theme.

6 · "Indeed in that is a sign…"

Ash-Shu'ara (repeated)

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Ash-Shu'ara 26:8 & 67

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً ۖ وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

Remember: This refrain recurs eight times in Surah Ash-Shu'ara after each prophet's story — count the stories to track which occurrence you are reciting.

7 · "So which of the favours…"

Ar-Rahman (refrain)

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Repeated 31 times

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Remember: Word-identical 31 times in Surah Ar-Rahman. The skill is tracking the verses between the refrains, which never repeat.

8 · "Establish prayer and give zakah"

Al-Baqarah 2:43

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ

Al-Baqarah 2:110

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ

Remember: Same opening, different endings. 2:43 ends with "bow with those who bow"; 2:110 continues "whatever good you send forth…"

9 · "We said: O Adam, dwell…"

Al-Baqarah 2:35

وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا

Al-A'raf 7:19

وَيَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ فَكُلَا مِنْ حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا

Remember: Baqarah opens "Wa qulna ya Adam" (We said); A'raf opens "Wa ya Adam." Baqarah adds raghadan; A'raf omits it.

10 · "And who is more unjust…"

Al-An'am 6:21

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِآيَاتِهِ

Al-An'am 6:93

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ

Remember: The opener "Who is more unjust…" begins many verses. In 6:21 it pairs with "denied His signs"; in 6:93 with "said: it was revealed to me."