Surah Mulk

Surah Mulk (مُلك: Sovereignty) is aka Tabāraka (تَبارَكَ: Blessed is He), Māni‘ah (مانِعَة: Preventer), Wāqiyah (واقيَة: protector), Munjiyah (مُنجيَة: Rescuer), and Mannā‘ah (مَنّاعَة: One who very much stops). Surah Mulk is the first surah in the 29^th juz of the Noble Quran that God Almighty revealed to Prophet Muhammad in Mecca. This surah is mostly about the universal lordship of God the Exalted who has blessed the entire universe and has created everything in the world. It speaks about the enormous power of God over everything.

Facts about Surah Mulk

Arabic Text and Translation of Surah Mulk

Tafseer of Surah Mulk

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, most merciful

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿1﴾

Blessed is He in whose hands is all sovereignty, and He has power over all things.

الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ ﴿2﴾

He, who created death and life that He may test you [to see] which of you is best in conduct. And He is the All-mighty, the All-forgiving.

God Almighty is the absolute sovereign of the entire universe. As the first verse of this surah says, He has power over all things and is very blessed. For this reason, we must be obedient to God and only worship Him with sincerity and remember Him greatly in our day to day lives. God Almighty has created both death and life to test us so that we may do good deeds and refrain from evil acts and sins.

Just imagine if there was life and no death, people were immortal, and no one could kill another either. How would human beings behave? Would they not transgress and rebel, doing whatever crime they desired? Would good and bad even make sense? Above all, if no one dies and the population of the world keeps on increasing, where would people live when the whole world is occupied by people? Besides, how would the good people be rewarded meritoriously for their acts of worship in this world and how would the sinners be punished when there is no death for their deeds to be measured?

Therefore, whatever God creates is good, even death. Death is a blessing in disguise. For believers, it is a new life where God blesses them and grants them paradise, while the evil-doers who oppressed people in the world will be punished. As a result, Divine justice is done. All in all, both life and death are two blessings that God created to test mankind to see who is the best in doing good. At the end of verse two, God says that He is mighty and forgiving.

The Flawless Creation of God in Surah Mulk

الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَاوُتٍ ۖ فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ ﴿3﴾

He created seven heavens in layers. You do not see any discordance in the creation of the All-beneficent. Look again! Do you see any flaw?

ُمَّ ارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ الْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ ﴿4﴾

Look again, once more. Your look will return to you humbled and weary.

In the third verse of surah Mulk, God Almighty and the Exalted mentions His creation of the seven heavens in layers, and also states that there is no disharmony or discordance in His creation. This is to show:

1. The enormous power of God who created seven heavens in layers  on top of one another and without any visible pillars
2. His creation is perfect and nothing is out of order in the universe

When God in this verse says that there is no discordance and disharmony in this world, it in fact means that everything in the world follows the law of cause and effect and everything is interconnected and intertwined in life. One cannot consider something to be totally disconnected and irrelevant to other things. To illustrate, every single phenomenon in the world is somehow related to another and affects the other. For example, if someone commits a crime, the perpetrator, the victim, the family of the victim, the administrators of justice, and so on are all involved. This is the meaning of there is no discordance and disharmony in creation.

The Adorned Sky in Surah Mulk

وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَاهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِيرِ ﴿5﴾

We have certainly adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and made them [the means of pelting] missiles against the devils, and We have prepared for them a punishment of the Blaze.

It is interesting that in this verse, God Almighty firstly speaks about the beauty of the stars and their being an ornament for the earth. However, God also says that these beautiful stars and ornaments have other uses as well. In fact, they have a repelling function. Sometimes devils and evil jinn want to eavesdrop and see what God tells his messengers. That is when a star strikes them and stops them from doing such evil acts. Some say that these are shooting stars or meteorites.

The Abode of Disbelievers in Surah Mulk

وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿6﴾

For those who defy their Lord is the punishment of hell, and it is an evil destination.

Verse 6 of Surah Mulk states that the punishment of hellfire is prepared for those who disbelieve. They will have an evil destination.

إِذَا أُلْقُوا فِيهَا سَمِعُوا لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِيَ تَفُورُ ﴿7﴾

When they are thrown in it, they hear it blaring, as it seethes,

Verse 7 describes vividly the intensity of the punishment. Every time a person is thrown into hell, a loud sound is heard.

Surah Mulk: Did a Warner Come to You?

تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ ۖ كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ ﴿8﴾

almost exploding with rage. Whenever a group is thrown in it, its keepers will ask them, ‘Did not any warner come to you?’

In verse 8 of surah Mulk, the inmates of hell are asked if anyone came to tell them of this punishment and warn them of God’s chastisement. Indeed, in our lives, has there any person come who has told us of the punishment of hell? Yes, of course. How many prophets came and went warning us of our ill conduct. Did we listen? Finally, the Seal of the Prophets, the best of God’s creation of God on earth came with the perfect religion that warns us of the punishment of hell. Of course, the religions before Islam also warned people of hell.

قَالُوا بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَاءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّـهُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ كَبِيرٍ ﴿9﴾

They will say, ‘Yes, a warner did come to us, but we impugned [him] and said, ‘Allah did not send down anything; you are only in great error.’

In verse 9 the inmates of hell also said: Yes, warners came to us but we ignored them and were misled.

Confession but It Is Too Late

وَقَالُوا لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِي أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ ﴿10﴾

And they will say, ‘Had we listened or applied reason, we would not have been among inmates of the Blaze.’

فَاعْتَرَفُوا بِذَنبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِّأَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ ﴿11﴾

Thus they will admit their sin. So away with the inmates of the Blaze!

It is obvious that when a person is put to trial, he will realize his mistake and admit his wrong act. In verse 10 of surah Mulk, the inmates of hell say that if they applied reason they would not be among the dwellers of hell. But why did they not think of this before that day? The answer is, they were too preoccupied with their selfish desires.

The inmates of hell confess to their sins. They say what they did was wrong, but too bad. It is too late. Confession now is not going to do them any good and they will have to be punished one way or another.

Surah Mulk: The Doers of Good Will Be Rewarded Generously

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ ﴿12﴾

Indeed for those who fear their Lord in secret there will be forgiveness and a great reward.

Verse 12 of surah Mulk talks about those who revere their Lord and fear Him out of respect. The Quran is a book that not only warns transgressors and evildoers, but also gives good news to the righteous. Those who fear their Lord unseeingly will have forgiveness and great reward.

God Knows What is in Your Heart

وَأَسِرُّوا قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ اجْهَرُوا بِهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ﴿13﴾

Speak secretly, or do so openly, indeed He knows well what is in the breasts.

This verse of surah Mulk clearly indicates that God is the knower of everything, including what you reveal and hide in your breasts. We sometimes think we can keep something secret without anyone knowing about it. However, we are wrong, God is the knower of everything and knows all that we hide in our hearts. Therefore, this surah is asserting the fact that speak in any way you want, audibly or secretly, it does not make a difference for God.

أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ ﴿14﴾

Would He who has created not know? And He is the All-attentive, the All-aware.

As the above verse says, God created us. Would someone who has created us not know about us? The verse concludes, God is the All-attentive and All-aware.

God’s Blessings on Man in Surah Mulk

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ ﴿15﴾

It is He who made the earth tractable for you; so walk on its flanks and eat of His provision, and towards Him is the resurrection.

The beauty of the verses of the Quran is the choice of certain combinations, as in verse 15 of surah Mulk. God says that he He is the one who made the earth in such a way that you can easily walk on it. That is, He levelled it, He did not make it steep and so on. Then it talks about eating of His provisions and the return to God. These three topics seem to be not much relevant but when brought together a beautiful relevance is established. A person who can walk steadily on earth has an easier time doing hard work to earn provision for himself and his family and everyone dies afterwards, returns, and God gathers him on Qiyamah.

Natural Disasters in Surah Mulk

أَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُ ﴿16﴾

Are you secure that He who is in the sky will not make the earth swallow you while it quakes?

أَمْ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ ﴿17﴾

Are you secure that He who is in the sky will not unleash upon you a rain of stones? Soon you will know how My warning has been!

In verses 16 and 17 of surah Mulk, God speaks about the destructive uncalculated and unpredictable phenomena in the world. God is saying, how would you know that the earth will not swallow you, or how do you know that the sky will not rain stones? God wants to inform us of our ignorance and helplessness. We are unable to predict such disasters and calamities. Therefore we must all return to God and put our trust in Him. God has warned us of these.

وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ ﴿18﴾

Certainly those who were before them had impugned [My apostles]; but then how was My rebuttal!

Then, God uses verse 18 of surah Mulk to remind us of those before us who had transgressed and how God treated them! They were also warned before being punished.

Wonderful Creation of Birds in Surah Mulk

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمَـٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ ﴿19﴾

Have they not regarded the birds above them spreading and closing their wings? No one sustains them except the All-beneficent. Indeed, He watches all things.

In this beautiful verse of surah Mulk, that is, verse 19, God talks about the creation of the fascinating creatures called birds. We see these mighty animals that easily and swiftly fly in the sky. Who has created and sustained them? This is a question God wants to ask us to make us admit the fact that only God is capable of doing such a thing. Birds fly in the sky by spreading and closing their wings. God is the creator of these wonderful animals.

Surah Mulk: Only God Provides for Us

أَمَّنْ هَـٰذَا الَّذِي يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُ ۚ بَل لَّجُّوا فِي عُتُوٍّ وَنُفُورٍ ﴿21﴾

Who is it that may provide for you if He withholds His provision? Indeed, they persist in defiance and aversion.

Verse 21 of surah Mulk draws attention to a rather stark fact, if it was not for God, who would give our provision? Who would provide for us and sustain us? It is God who provides for us and sustains us. If He does not, we would surely perish.

Walking Upright

أَفَمَن يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ أَهْدَىٰ أَمَّن يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿22﴾

Is he who walks prone on his face better guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path?

Verse 22 of surah Mulk talks to us about two groups of people:

1. A group of people who walk in such a way as if they are about to fall on their faces due to their inappropriate way of walking (in the way of error).
2. A group of people who walk upright and on a straight path.

Obviously, the first group of people are not on the guided path and are misled. And of course, the second group of people are the righteous who will prosper.

The Blessing of the Senses in Surah Mulk

قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۖ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿23﴾

Say, ‘It is He who created you, and made for you hearing, eyesight, and hearts. Little do you thank.’

Verse 23 of surah Mulk reminds the human being of three of his senses that he neglects very often. Hearing, eyesight, and thinking or the intellect. Can you even imagine yourself not being able to hear or see? The human being usually takes these blessings for granted. However, we must thank God for them every single day and even second so God does not take it away from us, which is when we would appreciate them. We must say every day, “O God! Thank you for all your blessings!”

The Promised Day

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿25﴾

They say, ‘When will this promise be fulfilled, if you are truthful?’

قُلْ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِندَ اللَّـهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿26﴾

Say, ‘Its knowledge is only with Allah; I am only a manifest warner.’

These two verses of surah Mulk, verses 25 and 26 are about Qiyamah. That is, the day that God has promised mankind to come and everyone will be held accountable on that day for their deeds. People ask when is it? God orders His Prophet to say: Its knowledge is only with God and I am only a warner.

Disbelievers’ Reaction to the Promised Day

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةً سِيئَتْ وُجُوهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا الَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِ تَدَّعُونَ ﴿27﴾

When they see it brought near, the countenances of the faithless will be contorted, and [they will be] told, ‘This is what you were asking for!’

So the disbelievers see that day approaching and their faces become full of distress. This is their day of doom. Those who defy God must expect such treatment.

The Beneficent One in Surah Mulk

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِيَ اللَّـهُ وَمَن مَّعِيَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ الْكَافِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿28﴾

Say, ‘Tell me, whether Allah destroys me and those who are with me, or He has mercy on us, who will shelter the faithless from a painful punishment?’

قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمَـٰنُ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿29﴾

Say, ‘He is the All-beneficent; we have faith in Him, and in Him do we trust. Soon you will know who is in manifest error.’

Verse 29 answers verse 28 by saying that the Beneficent one, Al-Raḥmān (الرَّحمن), meaning God Almighty, is the one who can shelter us and have mercy on us and protect us from punishment. The closest word and name of God to Allah is Al-Raḥmān.

Helplessness of Man in Surah Mulk

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاءٍ مَّعِينٍ ﴿30﴾

Say, ‘Tell me, should your water sink down [into the ground], who will bring you running water?’

The human being is a helpless creature without the help of God and his Prophet. God in verse 30 of surah Mulk tells us that if you water sinks down in to the ground, who other than God can bring you running water. As a matter of fact, theses verses of surah Mulk show the helplessness of man without the support of God Almighty. Therefore, we must always ask for God’s help.

Rewards and Benefits of Reciting Surah Mulk

• Whoever recites surah Mulk at night, he will receive the reward of keeping vigil at the night of ordainment (Qadr).¹
• Prophet Muhammad used to recite this surah every night before sleep.²
• Surah Mulk prevents pressure of the grave.
• By reciting surah Mulk, one can be safe from dangers.³
• Reciting surah Mulk grants one intercession of the Prophet.⁴