Ar-Roum (ٱلرُّوم)

Surah Ar-Rum (الروم) is the 30th surah of the Quran. It is one of the 29 surahs of the Quran that start with “Mysterious Letters”, known as Haroof e Muqatta’at (حُرُوف مُقَطَّعَات). Surah Ar-Rum starts with the mysterious letters الٓمٓ, the meanings and purpose of which are known only to Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. The name of the Surah is taken from its second verse, غُلِبَتِ ٱلرُّومُ, which means the “Romans have been defeated”.

Here, "Rum" refers to the then Eastern Roman Empire. Historically, the Eastern Roman Empire is more commonly called the "Byzantine Empire.” Sometimes, this empire is also mentioned as "The Greeks.” The event to which this surah refers is historically referred to as the "Byzantine-Sassanian War,” in which Iranians (Sassanian Empire) defeated the Byzantines (Eastern Roman Empire).

Later on, both these Empires fought with Muslims. The Surah predicts that the Romans will regain power and triumph within 3 to 9 years. Eventually, this prediction proved true when the Romans regained their lost Empire. Hence, this Surah is often taken as one of the pieces of evidence that the Quran comprises the Words of Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, and the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ is His true Messenger

٣٠ - ٱلرُّوم

30 - Ar-Roum

الۗمّۗ۝۱ۚ
Aliflammeem

English

Ahmed Ali

ALIF LAM MIM.

1

غُلِبَتِ الرُّوْمُ۝۲ۙ
Ghulibati alrroomu

English

Ahmed Ali

The Romans have been conquered

2

فِيْۗ اَدْنَى الْاَرْضِ وَہُمْ مِّنْۢ بَعْدِ غَلَبِہِمْ سَيَغْلِبُوْنَ۝۳ۙ
Fee adna alardi wahum min baAAdi ghalabihim sayaghliboona

English

Ahmed Ali

In the neighbouring land. But having been conquered they will conquer

3

فِيْ بِضْعِ سِنِيْنَ۝۰ۥۭ لِلہِ الْاَمْرُ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَمِنْۢ بَعْدُ۝۰ۭ وَيَوْمَىِٕذٍ يَّفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ۝۴ۙ
Fee bidAAi sineena lillahi alamru min qablu wamin baAAdu wayawmaithin yafrahu almuminoona

English

Ahmed Ali

In a few years (less than ten). God's is the imperative first and last. On that day the believers will rejoice

4

بِنَصْرِ اؘ۝۰ۭ يَنْصُرُ مَنْ يَّشَاۗءُ۝۰ۭ وَہُوَالْعَزِيْزُ الرَّحِيْمُ۝۵ۙ
Binasri Allahi yansuru man yashao wahuwa alAAazeezu alrraheemu

English

Ahmed Ali

In the help of God. He helps whom He will; He is all-mighty, ever-merciful.

5

وَعْدَ اؘ۝۰ۭ لَا يُخْلِفُ اللہُ وَعْدَہٗ وَلٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَ۝۶
WaAAda Allahi la yukhlifu Allahu waAAdahu walakinna akthara alnnasi la yaAAlamoona

English

Ahmed Ali

It is a promise of God; and God does not go back on His promise. Yet most men do not understand:

6

يَعْلَمُوْنَ ظَاہِرًا مِّنَ الْحَيٰوۃِ الدُّنْيَا۝۰ۚۖ وَہُمْ عَنِ الْاٰخِرَۃِ ہُمْ غٰفِلُوْنَ۝۷
YaAAlamoona thahiran mina alhayati alddunya wahum AAani alakhirati hum ghafiloona

English

Ahmed Ali

They only know the palpable life of this world, and are oblivious of the Hereafter.

7

اَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوْا فِيْۗ اَنْفُسِہِمْ۝۰ۣ مَا خَلَقَ اللہُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَہُمَاۗ اِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَاَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى۝۰ۭ وَ اِنَّ كَثِيْرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ بِلِقَاۗئِ رَبِّہِمْ لَكٰفِرُوْنَ۝۸
Awalam yatafakkaroo fee anfusihim ma khalaqa Allahu alssamawati waalarda wama baynahuma illa bialhaqqi waajalin musamman wainna katheeran mina alnnasi biliqai rabbihim lakafiroona

English

Ahmed Ali

Do they not think for themselves that God did not create the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them without reason and a determined purpose? But many men reject the meeting with their Lord.

8

اَوَلَمْ يَسِيْرُوْا فِي الْاَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوْا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَۃُ الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِہِمْ۝۰ۭ كَانُوْۗا اَشَدَّ مِنْہُمْ قُوَّۃً وَّاَثَارُوا الْاَرْضَ وَعَمَــرُوْہَاۗ اَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَــرُوْہَا وَجَاۗءَتْہُمْ رُسُلُہُمْ بِالْبَيِّنٰتِ۝۰ۭ فَمَا كَانَ اللہُ لِيَظْلِمَہُمْ وَلٰكِنْ كَانُوْۗا اَنْفُسَہُمْ يَظْلِمُوْنَ۝۹ۭ
Awalam yaseeroo fee alardi fayanthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu allatheena min qablihim kanoo ashadda minhum quwwatan waatharoo alarda waAAamarooha akthara mimma AAamarooha wajaathum rusuluhum bialbayyinati fama kana Allahu liyathlimahum walakin kanoo anfusahum yathlimoona

English

Ahmed Ali

Have they not travelled on the earth and seen how the others before them had met their end? They were far more powerful than them, furrowed the earth and colonised it far more than they; and their apostles came to them with visible signs. It was surely not for God to wrong them, they wronged themselves.

9

ثُمَّ كَانَ عَاقِبَۃَ الَّذِيْنَ اَسَاۗءُوا السُّوْۗاٰۗى اَنْ كَذَّبُوْا بِاٰيٰتِ اللہِ وَكَانُوْا بِہَا يَسْتَہْزِءُوْنَ۝۱۰ۧ
Thumma kana AAaqibata allatheena asaoo alssooa an kaththaboo biayati Allahi wakanoo biha yastahzioona

English

Ahmed Ali

Therefore evil was the end of those who did evil, for they denied the signs of God and made fun of them.

10

Shaan e Nazool (Historical Background)

At the time of the Prophet Muhammad’s صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ stay in Mecca, the parts of the Byzantine Empire, adjacent to the Arabian Peninsula, such as Syria, Jordan, and Palestine, had fallen to the Iranians (Sassanids). It happened in 614 / 615 CE. In the verses 2 to 4 of Surah Ar-Rum, the event is precisely described with the authoritative forecast that the Romans will regain power.

Translation

  1. The Romans have been conquered
  2. In the neighbouring land. But having been conquered, they will conquer
  3. In a few years (less than ten). God's is the imperative first and last. On that day, the believers will rejoice

The conflict between Iranians and Byzantines was an ongoing process, spanned a period from 602 to 628 CE. The year 615 is quite significant in this conflict, as the first migration of Muslims (migration of Habshah) took place in this year. The King of Habshah was a Christian who protected and took good care of the Muslim migrants. At that point in time, the Kingdom of Habshah was an ally of the Byzantine Empire. The fall of the Byzantine Empire was a point of concern for the Muslims, whereas the Quraysh of Mecca were happy over this development and saw this as their chance of overpowering Muslims.

That was the historical context and Shan-e-Nazool of this Surah, where Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, gave good news to the Muslims that within a period of 3 to 9 years (sometimes taken as less than 10 years), Romans will regain their Empire, which would be a matter of satisfaction and rejoice for the believers. Eventually, this happened exactly within the timeframe given in this Surah, although it was generally seen as nearly impossible.

Makki or Madni Surah

The subject, especially the first few verses of Surah Ar-Rum, points towards the historical event of the fall of the Romans at the hands of the Iranians. It also relates to the first migration of Muslims to Hasbhah, which took place in 615 CE. Accordingly, it is established that this Surah was sent down at that point in time. Hence, it is unanimously agreed that it is a Makki Surah. 

Place in the Quran

It is the 30th Surah of the Quran. Surah Ar-Rum is placed in Juzz (para) 21. It can be found between Surah Al-Ankabut (29th Surah) and Surah Luqman (31st Surah). Per the order of revelation, it comes at number 84. In the sequence of recitation, it falls at number 30.

Number of Verses

Surah Ar-Rum comprises 60 verses.

Number of Ruku (Sections)

Surah Ar-Rum is divided into 6 sections (Rukus).

Significance of Surah Ar-Rum

Surah Ar-Rum is one of the Surahs that are associated with a certain event, especially pertaining to the earlier days of Islam. It is also considered powerful evidence that the Quran is a Divine Book, comprising the words of Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. The Surah was revealed, most probably in the year 615 CE. This was the time when the first migration of Muslims took place, known as the migration to Habshah. The King of Habshah was a Christian but was very kind to the Muslim migrants. The Kingdom of Habshah was an ally of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantines were overpowered by the Iranians (Sassanids).

The Quraysh of Mecca saw the fall of the Byzantines at the hands of the Sassanids as a good chance of eliminating Islam from the Arabian Peninsula. On the other hand, the Muslims, especially those who migrated to Habshah, were worried about the strength of the Sassanids and the fall of the Byzantines. In this backdrop, Surah Ar-Rum was revealed with the precise prediction that the Byzantines would get back their lost empire, within a period of less than 10 years.

The prediction of the Quran proved true, exactly within the time frame given in Surah Ar-Rum. The Iranians were defeated by the Byzantines, which served as proof that the Quran is a Divine Book, containing the words of Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Ar-Rum

Surah Ar-Rum can be divided into two parts, based on the subject and theme, although both are also interrelated when seen in a broader spectrum. The Surah starts with a prediction, which no one could believe at that stage; the victory of the Romans, which were at that point in time, comprehensively overpowered by the Sassanids. Even a precise timeframe is given for this happening, in this Surah, which eventually happened exactly in the way, as mentioned in verses 2, 3, and 4.

In the next few verses, Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Commands that the people can only comprehend what is in front of them and is present in this world. They are not capable of apprehending the actual life, the life hereafter. Here, the concept of resurrection is also explained, and the non-believers are reminded of the outcome of their acts and deeds. In the subsequent verses, Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ reminds the non-believers of the punishment, which would be their destiny on the Day of Judgement.

Verses 19 to 26 comprise the examples from nature, which reflect the Absolute Authority of Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ on the entire Universe. These signs also reflect the concept of Oneness of Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, also known as Tawhid.

The second part of the Surah, starting from the 28th verse onwards, consists of affirmation of the concept of Tawhid, while the Shirk (polytheism) is refuted. It is established in these verses that the best and the natural way of life is following Tawhid, Oneness of Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, whereas polytheism is against nature and often results in trouble. In this part of the Surah, the difference between the fate of the believers and disbelievers on the Day of Judgement is also mentioned.

An example of rain is given in the 48th verse of this Surah, explaining how Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, suddenly changes the fates. A dead earth suddenly comes alive, with just of shower of rain. So, Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Mercy is also like a drop of rain, which can change the fate of those who believe. This shower of Mercy is sent to this world by way of Divine Revelations and the Prophethood. Those who believe in Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, and the Prophets, will benefit just like the rain benefits the land. But those who do not believe would be deprived of the benefits, both in this world as well as the hereafter. 

The last verse of the surah is addressed to the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, to be patient, as Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ Promise is True.

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Ar-Rum

The verses of the Quran are the words of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, hence reciting them carries huge benefits. The same is also true for the verses of Surah Ar-Rum. Additionally, Surah Ar-Rum has some specific virtues and benefits. Per some traditions, it is believed that reciting this Surah brings rewards equal to 10 times the number of Angels that exist between the Heavens and the Earth.

Other virtues and benefits of reciting this Surah include:

  • Like any other verse or surah, recitation of Surah Ar-Rum provides peace of soul and mind.
  • It strengthens one’s faith in Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ and the life hereafter.
  • The concept of the Day of Resurrection and the rewards and punishments on the Day of Judgement are well understood while reciting this surah.

Listen to the Recitation of Surah Ar-Rum by Renowned Qaris

Reading the Quran with correct pronunciation is extremely important. Even a minor deviation in pronouncing a word might entirely change its theme and meaning, which would be a wrong practice. Arabic is a very sensitive language. While reciting the Quran, it becomes crucial to read it exactly in the same way as was revealed, as these are the words of Allah, سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ. Any wrong pronunciation of any of the words may lead to an entirely different meaning.

It might be even more difficult for a non-Arabic speaking person to correctly pronounce the Quranic verses, whereas reading the Quran with Tajweed is crucial. In this context, listening to the recitation of an authentic Qari might help us read the Quranic verses with the Tajweed. On the other hand, sometimes, one would like to just listen to the Quran, instead of reading. To assist you in this context, we at MuslimandQuran have uploaded recitation of the Quran by various renowned and authentic reciters (Qaris).

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Surah Ar-Rum PDF

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FAQs:

Ar-Rum points to the Eastern Roman Empire, which was a powerful regime of its time. It is also known as the Byzantine Empire, which included areas such as Syria, Jordan, and Palestine.

It can be recited anytime during the day or night. No specific time is associated with its recitation.

Yes, the event of the victory of the Romans over the Iranians is mentioned in Hadith 2935 of Jami At-Tirmidhi. ("On the Day of (the battle of) Badr, the Romans had a victory over the Persians. So the believers were pleased with that, then the following was revealed: Alif Lam Mim. The Romans have been defeated..." up to His saying: '...the believers will rejoice. (30:1-4)" He said: "So the believers were happy with the victory of the Romans over the Persians.)

Yes, you can listen to it online on the Mobile Application of MuslimandQuran.

Yes, it carries huge rewards, just like any other verse or surah of the Quran. However, there is no authentic reference to any specific rewards for reciting this particular Surah. It can be recited any time during the night or the day.

The Quran is for every Muslim, irrespective of nationality and language. It is not for the Arabic speaking people. Anyone who recites any of the surahs or verses of the Quran, including Surah Ar-Rum, gets equal benefits, irrespective of their mother tongue. However, it is better to try to understand the meanings of the verses of the Surah while reciting it.