Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

      I, Terry K. Glenn, President of Merrill Lynch New Jersey Municipal Bond
      Fund of Merrill Lynch Multi-State Municipal Series Trust (the "Fund"),
      certify that:

            1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
                  requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934; and

            2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Fund.

      Dated: March 19, 2004


                                                /s/ Terry K. Glenn
                                                ------------------
                                                Terry K. Glenn,
                                                President of
                                                Merrill Lynch New Jersey
                                                Municipal Bond Fund of Merrill
                                                Lynch Multi-State Municipal
                                                Series Trust

      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or
      other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the
      signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this
      written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Merrill
      Lynch New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund of Merrill Lynch Multi-State
      Municipal Series Trust and will be retained by Merrill Lynch New Jersey
      Municipal Bond Fund of Merrill Lynch Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
      and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon
      request.



Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

      I, Donald C. Burke, Chief Financial Officer of Merrill Lynch New Jersey
      Municipal Bond Fund of Merrill Lynch Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
      (the "Fund"), certify that:

            1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
                  requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934; and

            2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Fund.

      Dated: March 19, 2004


                                                /s/ Donald C. Burke
                                                -------------------
                                                Donald C. Burke,
                                                Chief Financial Officer of
                                                Merrill Lynch New Jersey
                                                Municipal Bond Fund of Merrill
                                                Lynch Multi-State Municipal
                                                Series Trust

      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or
      other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the
      signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this
      written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Merrill
      Lynch New Jersey Municipal Bond Fund of Merrill Lynch Multi-State
      Municipal Series Trust and will be retained by Merrill Lynch New Jersey
      Municipal Bond Fund of Merrill Lynch Multi-State Municipal Series Trust
      and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon
      request.