Mutashabihat in Ijazah are the similar verses that cause more stumbles in an Ijazah recitation than any tajweed rule. They are passages worded almost identically in different places, differing by a single letter, a swapped word, a changed order or a different ending. Even strong huffaz jump from one to the other under exam pressure. The solution is to identify them deliberately, study them side by side and drill them until each one has its own clear place in your memory, which is exactly how our certified Ijazah teachers prepare students before the final recitation.
This guide explains the main types of mutashabihat, shows real examples from the Quran, and gives you a step-by-step method to stop mixing them up.
Key takeaways
- Mutashabihat lafziyyah are verbally similar verses, different from the “mutashabih” verses of unclear meaning mentioned in Al Imran 3:7.
- The main types are word swaps, added or missing letters, reversed order, different endings and repeated refrains.
- Studying both verses side by side, with their surah context, is more effective than drilling each alone.
- A personal mutashabihat notebook is one of the most valuable tools an Ijazah student can build.
What Mutashabihat Are (and What They Are Not)
The word mutashabih means “resembling.” In Ijazah and Hifz circles, mutashabihat usually means mutashabih lafzi: passages that look and sound alike. This is different from the meaning in Surah Al Imran, ayah 7, where Allah describes some verses as muhkam (clear in meaning) and others as mutashabih (open to more than one interpretation). That is a topic of tafsir and aqeedah. Here, we are talking about memorization.
Scholars have written whole books on verbal mutashabihat. Some list them for huffaz, such as al-Sakhawi’s poem Hidayat al-Murtab, while others, such as al-Kirmani and al-Iskafi, explain the wisdom behind each difference in wording. You do not need to study these works to earn an Ijazah, but knowing that the differences are purposeful helps you respect every letter.
Why Mutashabihat Matter So Much in an Ijazah
In a Hifz Ijazah, you recite the entire Quran from memory to your teacher, and the teacher may also test you by starting you at random places. A single slip from 2:58 into 7:161 counts as a mistake, and repeated slips show that your memorization is not yet precise enough to be certified.
Even in a recitation Ijazah read from the mushaf, students who have memorized much of the Quran sometimes recite from memory without noticing and fall into the same traps. If you are deciding between tracks, our sister guide on partial Ijazah vs full Ijazah explains how the requirements differ.
The Five Main Types of Mutashabihat
| Type | What changes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Word swap | One word replaces another | يذبحون in 2:49 vs يقتلون in 7:141 |
| Added or missing letter | A waw, fa or other letter appears in one place only | وسنزيد in 2:58 vs سنزيد in 7:161 |
| Reversed order | The same phrases appear in a different order | Intercession and ransom in 2:48 vs 2:123 |
| Different ending | The ayah closes differently | فإن الله in 16:115 vs فإن ربك in 6:145 |
| Repeated refrain | The same ayah recurs a set number of times | فبأي آلاء ربكما تكذبان in Ar-Rahman |
A closer look at one famous pair
Al-Baqarah 2:58 and Al-A’raf 7:161 describe the same event, the command to the Children of Israel to enter the town humbly. Yet they differ in at least five places: how the command is introduced, the eating phrase with or without رَغَدًا, the order of “enter the gate” and “say hittah,” the word for “your sins,” and the waw before “We will increase.” This one pair shows why mutashabihat cannot be fixed by repetition alone. You need to know exactly what differs.
A Step-by-Step Method to Master Them
- Collect. Every time you hesitate or your teacher stops you because you mixed two verses, write both references in a notebook.
- Compare side by side. Write the two verses one above the other and circle every difference. Seeing them together is the key step most students skip.
- Create an anchor. Link each version to something distinctive about its surah: its theme, its position in the mushaf, or a nearby word. For example, in the pairs 2:35 and 7:19, and 2:58 and 7:161, only the Al-Baqarah verses contain رَغَدًا.
- Recite in pairs. Read verse A, then verse B, then A again, slowly and aloud. Then recite each in its full context, starting a few ayahs earlier.
- Mark your mushaf. A small, consistent pencil mark beside each mutashabih reminds you on every revision that there is a twin elsewhere.
- Test cold. Ask a teacher or study partner to start you at the beginning of a tricky verse without warning.
Flip through the cards below to practice some of the best-known pairs. Try to recite the difference before you turn each card over.
Mutashabihat Flashcards
Flip each card to see how two similar verses differ
Building Mutashabihat Into Your Weekly Revision
Mutashabihat are best handled a little at a time rather than in a big pre-exam push.
- Daily: review three to five pairs from your notebook for five minutes.
- Weekly: recite every pair you have collected that week to your teacher.
- Before each new juz in the khatmah: scan that juz for known mutashabihat and refresh their twins.
- Monthly: do one session of random-start testing across your whole memorization.
Strong revision underpins all of this. Our article on how to memorize the Quran without forgetting gives a full revision system you can combine with this method.
Do not leave mutashabihat for the end. Students who wait until the Ijazah khatmah to deal with similar verses often find that each correction knocks loose another one. Start your notebook as early as possible in your Hifz.
Starting Small: Juz Amma and Short Surahs
Short surahs have mutashabihat too. Surah Al-Infitar begins إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انفَطَرَتْ and Surah Al-Inshiqaq begins إِذَا السَّمَاءُ انشَقَّتْ, and both sit close to Surah At-Takwir, which also opens with إِذَا. Many students practice the method on this juz first. If that is your plan, our sister guide on Ijazah in Juz Amma explains what a short-portion Ijazah involves.
How a Teacher Helps
A teacher who has guided many students through the khatmah knows which pairs trip people up most and will often warn you before you reach them. They also notice patterns in your mistakes, such as always defaulting to the Al-Baqarah version, and give targeted drills. If you are preparing for a Hifz or recitation Ijazah, studying with Ijazah teachers who hold a connected sanad means you have someone listening for exactly these slips. You can also read how to complete the Ijazah for an overview of the whole path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are mutashabihat in the Quran?
In memorization, mutashabihat are verses that are worded almost identically but differ slightly in letters, words, order or endings. They are a well-known challenge for huffaz. The term is also used in Al Imran 3:7 for verses whose meaning is not immediately clear, which is a separate subject.
How many mutashabihat are there in the Quran?
There is no single agreed number, because it depends on how strictly “similar” is defined. Books devoted to the subject list many hundreds of passages. In practice, each student builds a personal list of the ones that actually confuse them.
Do I need to master mutashabihat for an Ijazah?
For a Hifz Ijazah, yes: you must recite the whole Quran from memory accurately, and similar verses are where most errors happen. For a recitation Ijazah read from the mushaf, they matter less, but students who know much of the Quran by heart still benefit from studying them.
What is the fastest way to stop mixing two similar verses?
Write both verses one above the other, circle the differences, and recite them as a pair in their full context several times a day for a week. Then ask someone to test you without warning. Most pairs settle within a couple of weeks.
Can a teacher help me with mutashabihat online?
Yes. A one-to-one teacher can test you at random starting points, track your recurring slips and give you targeted drills. Our online Ijazah course includes this kind of focused preparation, and you can start with a free trial class.
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