What are the benefits of surah mulk reading?

Surah Mulk is one of the short surahs that has many benefits to its reciter, due to its significance our beloved prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed us to read it every night.

But why is Surah Mulk reading so important? When should we read it? why? All these questions are going on in your mind and we are here to answer them in addition to so much more, Let’s get started.

When was Surah Al-Mulk revealed?

The exact time of revelation of surah Al-Mulk is not known, however, based on the subject matter of the surah and the style it indicates that it is one of the earliest Surahs to be revealed at Makkah.

The reason for the revelation of Surat Al-Mulk?

Here is the reason for the revelation of verse number 13 based on hadiths:

“Whether you speak secretly or openly—He surely knows best what is ˹hidden˺ in the heart.”[67:13]. Said Ibn ‘Abbas: “This was revealed about the idolaters who used to slander the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace. Gabriel, peace be upon him, informed him about what they said about him and the things with which they slandered him. Some of them used to say to others: ‘Lower your voices lest Muhammad’s Allah hears you’”.

How many Ayat in surah Mulk?

surah Mulk reading is one of the most important things to do daily, it is one of the short surahs that has only 30 verses.

What are the benefits of Surah Mulk reading?  

It will intercede for its reciter and protect him/her from the punishment of the grave, grant us Allah’s forgiveness, and gain many rewards for each letter we read, and it is a Sunnah.

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Indeed there is a Surah in the Qur’an of thirty Ayat, which intercedes for a man until he is forgiven. It is [Surah] Tabarak Alladhi Biyadihil-Mulk.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2891, Book 45, Hadith 17, Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2891, Grade: Hasan]

Benefits of Surah Mulk reading

Here are some of the surah al Mulk benefits from hadiths:

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Indeed there is a Surah in the Qur’an of thirty Ayat, which intercedes for a man until he is forgiven. It is [Surah] Tabarak Alladhi Biyadihil-Mulk.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2891, Book 45, Hadith 17, Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2891, Grade: Hasan]

Narrated Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Indeed there is a Surah in the Qur’an of thirty Ayat, which intercedes for a man until he is forgiven. It is [Surah] Tabarak Alladhi Biyadihil-Mulk.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2891, Book 45, Hadith 17, Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2891, Grade: Hasan]

When to read Surah Mulk?

The best time for Surah Mulk to read is every day at night.

At-Tirmidhi also narrated from Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would not go to sleep until he had recited “Alif, Laam, Meem. [This is] the revelation of the Book” [Soorat as-Sajdah] and “Tabaarak alladhi bi yadihi’l-mulk… (Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion…)” [Soorat al-Mulk].

‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ud said: Whoever reads Tabarak alladhi bi yadihi’l-mulk [i.e., Surat al-Mulk ] every night, Allah will protect him from the torment of the grave . At the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) we used to call it al-mani’ah (that which protects). In the Book of Allah, it is a surah that, whoever recites it every night has done very well. (Narrated by al-Nasai, 6/179; classed as hasan by al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib wa’l-Tarhib, 1475.)

The prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Whoever recites a letter of the Book of Allah will be credited with a good deed and a good deed is multiplied into ten. I do not say that [the word:] “Alif Lam Meem” is [counted as] one letter. Rather, Alif is one letter, Lam is one letter and Meem is one letter” (At-Tirmidhi)

 

Surah Mulk translation.

Surah Mulk reading in Arabic might be a bit hard, so here is its English translation:

تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ ١

Blessed is the One in Whose Hands rests all authority. And He is Most Capable of everything.

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٢

˹He is the One˺ Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَٰتٍۢ طِبَاقًۭا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍۢ ۖ فَٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍۢ ٣

˹He is the One˺ Who created seven heavens, one above the other. You will never see any imperfection in the creation of the Most Compassionate.1 So look again: do you see any flaws?

ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًۭا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌۭ ٤

Then look again and again—your sight will return frustrated and weary

وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا رُجُومًۭا لِّلشَّيَـٰطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ٥

And indeed, We adorned the lowest heaven with ˹stars like˺ lamps, and made them ˹as missiles˺ for stoning ˹eavesdropping˺ devils, for whom We have also prepared the torment of the Blaze.1

وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ٦

 Those who disbelieve in their Lord will suffer the punishment of Hell. What an evil destination!

 إِذَآ أُلْقُوا۟ فِيهَا سَمِعُوا۟ لَهَا شَهِيقًۭا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ ٧

 When they are tossed into it, they will hear its roaring as it boils over,

 تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلْقِىَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌۭ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌۭ ٨

 almost bursting in fury. Every time a group is cast into it, its keepers will ask them, “Did a warner not come to you?”

 قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌۭ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍۢ كَبِيرٍۢ ٩

 They will reply, “Yes, a warner did come to us, but we denied and said, ‘Allah has revealed nothing. You are extremely astray.’”

وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ١٠

 And they will lament, “If only we had listened and reasoned, we would not be among the residents of the Blaze!”

 فَٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًۭا لِّأَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ١١

And so they will confess their sins. So away with the residents of the Blaze!

 إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌۭ وَأَجْرٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ ١٢

 Indeed, those in awe of their Lord without seeing Him1 will have forgiveness and a mighty reward.

 وَأَسِرُّوا۟ قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ ٱجْهَرُوا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ ١٣

 Whether you speak secretly or openly—He surely knows best what is ˹hidden˺ in the heart.

 أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ ١٤

 How could He not know His Own creation? For He ˹alone˺ is the Most Subtle, All-Aware.

 هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًۭا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِى مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ ١٥

 He is the One Who smoothed out the earth for you, so move about in its regions and eat from His provisions. And to Him is the resurrection ˹of all˺.

Surah Mulk reading rom verse number 16 to 30 in English:

 ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ ١٦

 Do you feel secure that the One Who is in heaven will not cause the earth to swallow you up as it quakes violently?

 أَمْ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًۭا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ ١٧

 Or do you feel secure that the One in Heaven will not unleash upon you a storm of stones. Only then would you know how ˹serious˺ My warning was!

وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ ١٨

 And certainly those before them denied ˹as well˺, then how severe was My response!

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍۢ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۭ بَصِيرٌ ١٩

Have they not seen the birds above them, spreading and folding their wings? None holds them up except the Most Compassionate. Indeed, He is All-Seeing of everything.

أَمَّنْ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌۭ لَّكُمْ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ ٢٠

Also, which ˹powerless˺ force will come to your help instead of the Most Compassionate? Indeed, the disbelievers are only ˹lost˺ in delusion.

أَمَّنْ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُۥ ۚ بَل لَّجُّوا۟ فِى عُتُوٍّۢ وَنُفُورٍ ٢١

Or who is it that will provide for you if He withholds His provision? In fact, they persist in arrogance and aversion ˹to the truth˺.

أَفَمَن يَمْشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦٓ أَهْدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمْشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ ٢٢

Who is ˹rightly˺ guided: the one who crawls facedown or the one who walks upright on the Straight Path?

قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۖ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ ٢٣

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “He is the One Who brought you into being and gave you hearing, sight, and intellect. ˹Yet˺ you hardly give any thanks.”

قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ٢٤

˹Also˺ say, “He is the One Who has dispersed you ˹all˺ over the earth, and to Him, you will ˹all˺ be gathered.”

وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ٢٥

˹Still˺ they ask ˹the believers˺, “When will this threat come to pass if what you say is true?”

قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْعِلْمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ٢٦

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “That knowledge is with Allah alone, and I am only sent with a clear warning.”

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةًۭ سِيٓـَٔتْ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَقِيلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ ٢٧

Then when they see the torment drawing near, the faces of the disbelievers will become gloomy, and it will be said ˹to them˺, “This is what you claimed would never come.”1

قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِىَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍۢ ٢٨

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Consider this: whether Allah causes me and those with me to die or shows us mercy, who will save the disbelievers from a painful punishment?”1

قُلْ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ ٢٩

Say, “He is the Most Compassionate—in Him ˹alone˺ we believe, and in Him ˹alone˺ we trust. You will soon know who is clearly astray.”

قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَآؤُكُمْ غَوْرًۭا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَآءٍۢ مَّعِينٍۭ ٣٠

Say, “Consider this: if your water were to sink ˹into the earth˺, then who ˹else˺ could bring you flowing water?”

 

Surah Mulk Tafseer.

Surah Mulk reading is essential, however, to apply the guidance and teachings of the surah in your life and understand its meaning you should read the tafsir of its verses. So here is the Tafsir of the first 5 verses by Ibn Kathir:

﴿ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴾

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

(1. Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is Able to do all things.) (2. Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving;) (3. Who has created the seven heavens one above the other; you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. Then look again. Can you see any rifts?) (4. Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you Khasi’, and worn out.) (5. And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin, and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.)

Glorification of Allah and mentioning the Creation of Death, Life, the Heavens and the Stars

Allah the Exalted glorifies His Noble Self and informs that the dominion is in His Hand. This means that He deals with all of His creatures however He wishes and there is none who can reverse His decree. He is not questioned concerning what He does because of His force, His wisdom and His justice. For this reason Allah says,

 وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

(and He is Able to do all things.) Then Allah says,

الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ

(Who has created death and life) Those who say that death is an existing creation use this Ayah as a proof because it is something that has been created. This Ayah means that He brought creation into existence from nothing in order to test the creatures. He examines them to see which of them will be best in deeds. This is similar to Allah’s statement,

كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنْتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ۖ

(How can you disbelieve in Allah? Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life.) (2:28)

In this Ayah Allah named the first stage, which is non-existence, “death.” Then he named the origin or beginning of existence, “life.” This is why Allah says,

ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ

(Then He will give death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection)) (2:28). Concerning Allah’s statement,

لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا

(He may test you which of you is best in deed.) it means best in deeds. This is as Muhammad bin ‘Ajlan said. It should be noted that Allah did not say “which of you does the most deeds.” Allah then says,

وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ

(And He is the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving.) This means that He is the Almighty, the Most Great, the Most Powerful and the Most Honorable. However, along with this He is Most Forgiving to whoever turns to Him in repentance and seeks His pardon after having disobeyed Him and opposed His commandment. Even though Allah is Almighty, He also forgives, shows mercy, pardons and excuses. Then Allah says,

الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ

(Who has created the seven heavens one above the other;) meaning stacked one on top of the other. Are they connected to each other, meaning that they are in elevated ascension, some of them being stacked above others, or separated with space between them? There are two views concerning this, and the most correct opinion seems to be the latter as is proven in the Hadith of Isra’ (the Prophet’s Night Journey) and other narrations. Concerning Allah’s statement,

مَا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنْ تَفَاوُتٍ ۖ

(you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious.) means, it (the creation) is done in a flawless manner, and these are connected with each other so as to forms a straight level, having no disunion, conflict, inconsistency, deficiency, flaw or defect. This is the reason that Allah says,

فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or rifts in it? Ibn ‘Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri, and others said concerning Allah’s statement,

فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ

(Then look again. Can you see any rifts) that it means cracks. As-Suddi said that,

هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ

(Can you see any rifts?) means any tears. Qatadah said,

 هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ

(Can you see any rifts?) means, ‘do you see any defects O Son of Adam (mankind)?’

In reference to Allah’s statement,

ثُمَّ ارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ

(Then look again and yet again,) Qatadah said, “It means (look) twice.”

يَنْقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ الْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا

(your sight will return to you Khasi’,) Ibn ‘Abbas said that Khasi’ means humiliated. Mujahid and Qatadah both said that it means despised.

وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ

(and worn out.) Ibn ‘Abbas said that this means it will be exhausted. Mujahid, Qatadah, and As-Suddi all said that it means broken-down fatigue that comes from weakness. Thus, the Ayah means that if you continuously looked, no matter how much you look, your sight will return to you.

خَاسِئًا

(Khasi’) due to the inability to see any flaw or defect (in Allah’s creation).

وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ

(and worn out.) meaning, exhausted and broken down feebleness due to the great amount of repeated looking without being able to detect any deficiency. Then, after Allah negated any deficiency in the creation of the heavens, He explains their perfection and beauty. He says,

وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ

(And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps,) This refers to the stars which have been placed in the heavens, some moving and some stationary. In Allah’s statement,

وَجَعَلْنَاهَا رُجُومًا لِلشَّيَاطِينِ

(and We have made them (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin,) The pronoun ‘them’ in His statement, “and We have made them” is the same type of statement as the stars being referred to as lamps. This does not mean that they are actually missiles, because the stars in the sky are not thrown. Rather, it is the meteors beneath them that are thrown and they are taken from the stars. And Allah knows best. Concerning Allah’s statement,

وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِيرِ

(and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.) means, ‘We have made this disgrace for the devils in this life and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire in the Hereafter.’ This is as Allah said in the beginning of Surat As-Saffat,

إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ الْكَوَاكِبِ – وَحِفْظًا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ مَارِدٍ – لَا يَسَّمَّعُونَ إِلَى الْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَىٰ وَيُقْذَفُونَ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ – دُحُورًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ وَاصِبٌ – إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ الْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهَابٌ ثَاقِبٌ

(Verily, We have adorned the near heaven with the stars (for beauty). And to guard against every rebellious devil. They cannot listen to the higher group (angels) for they are pelted from every side. Outcast and theirs is a constant (or painful) torment. Except such as snatch away something by stealing, and they are pursued by a flaming fire of piercing brightness.) (37:6-10)

Qatadah said, “These stars were only created for three purposes: Allah created them as adornment for the heaven (sky), as missiles for the devils, and as signs for navigation. Therefore, whoever seeks to interpret any other meanings for them other than these, then verily he has spoken with his own opinion, he has lost his portion and burdened himself with that which he has no knowledge of.” Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this statement.

Know we know the benefits of surah Mulk reading, the best time to read it? when it was revealed, and the reason for revelation. If you found the article helpful feel free to share it. If you still have any questions, comment below; we will gladly help you. 

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