Surah Al-Mulk is the 67th chapter of the Quran, 30 ayat revealed in Makkah, named after its opening word Tabaraka ("Blessed") and the dominion, or mulk, it declares belongs to Allah alone. It moves from the order of the heavens to the fate of those who deny the Hereafter, and it carries one hadith, graded hasan, about a surah of thirty ayat that intercedes for its reciter. Below is the full Arabic text with the Saheeh International translation, what the surah is actually about, and why it has become a habit many listeners keep at night.
What Surah Al-Mulk is about
The surah opens by naming Allah as the one in whose hand all dominion rests, then immediately explains why: He is the one who created death and life "to test you which of you is best in deed" (67:2), not which of you does the most. Ibn Kathir's tafsir points out that specific wording. Volume of deeds is not the measure; quality is.
From there the surah turns to the sky itself as evidence. It describes seven heavens built in layers and invites the listener to look twice, three times, for any flaw or crack, and to find none. The stars in the nearest heaven are described as both an adornment and, in the account this surah gives, a defense flung at devils who try to eavesdrop on the heavens above. That image of a flawless, examined sky sits right next to a description of Hell, where the keepers ask every group that is thrown in, "Did there not come to you a warner?", and they admit that one did, and that they refused to listen.
The middle of the surah turns from the sky to the person listening. Those who fear their Lord "unseen", meaning privately, without anyone watching, are promised forgiveness and a great reward, because Allah is described as knowing what is said in secret as well as what is said aloud. The earth itself is presented as a provision made tame for walking and working, with the return still, in the end, to Him.
The final third is built almost entirely from rhetorical questions, each one closing off an escape route: do you feel secure the earth will not swallow you, or that a storm will not fall on you, the way it did on nations before you? What army do you have besides the Most Merciful? What birds hold themselves in the air except by His leave? The surah ends with two of these in a row: if Allah caused the Prophet's death, who would protect the deniers from a painful punishment; and if the water that everyone in Makkah drank from suddenly sank into the ground, who but Allah could bring back flowing water. Neither question is answered in the text. None is meant to be answered by anyone but Allah.
The hadith on its virtue
Surah Al-Mulk carries one verified hadith about its virtue. The Prophet (peace 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, graded hasan). That is the surah's own name for itself in the hadith, Tabarak Alladhi Biyadihil-Mulk, "Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion", which is exactly the surah's opening line. This is the only hadith about Surah Al-Mulk's virtue with a usable grade; a separate, well-known report that has the Prophet never sleeping until he had recited Al-Sajdah and Al-Mulk is weak, so it is left out here rather than repeated as if it were established.
Why many listen to it at night
Beyond that one hadith, Surah Al-Mulk's place in a nightly routine seems to come from something more practical: it is short enough to finish in about five minutes, long enough to feel complete, and its content, a survey of creation, a warning about the Hereafter, and a closing reliance on Allah, sits naturally at the end of a day. Many listeners treat it the way they treat the last two ayat of Al-Baqarah or the three short surahs before sleep: not a ritual with its own hadith, just a manageable, meaningful surah to end on. If you are trying to build that kind of routine more generally, our guide to a daily Quran listening habit has a simpler starting point than a full surah every night.
Surah Al-Mulk in full: Arabic and English
The Arabic below is in the Imla'i script; the English is the Saheeh International translation.
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١﴾ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ مِن تَفَاوُتٍ ۖ فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ ﴿٣﴾
الملك: 1-3"Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving [And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks?"
Al-Mulk 67:1-3, Saheeh International
ثُمَّ ارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ الْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ ﴿٤﴾ وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَاهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِيرِ ﴿٥﴾ وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿٦﴾
الملك: 4-6"Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued. And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with lamps [i.e., stars] and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze. And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination."
Al-Mulk 67:4-6, Saheeh International
إِذَا أُلْقُوا فِيهَا سَمِعُوا لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِيَ تَفُورُ ﴿٧﴾ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ ۖ كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ ﴿٨﴾ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَاءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ كَبِيرٍ ﴿٩﴾
الملك: 7-9"When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, "Did there not come to you a warner?" They will say, "Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, 'Allāh has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.'""
Al-Mulk 67:7-9, Saheeh International
وَقَالُوا لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِي أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ ﴿١٠﴾ فَاعْتَرَفُوا بِذَنبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِّأَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ ﴿١١﴾ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ ﴿١٢﴾
الملك: 10-12"And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze." And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze. Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward."
Al-Mulk 67:10-12, Saheeh International
وَأَسِرُّوا قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ اجْهَرُوا بِهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ﴿١٣﴾ أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ ﴿١٤﴾ هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ ﴿١٥﴾
الملك: 13-15"And conceal your speech or publicize it; indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts. Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Aware? It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection."
Al-Mulk 67:13-15, Saheeh International
أَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُ ﴿١٦﴾ أَمْ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ ﴿١٧﴾ وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ ﴿١٨﴾
الملك: 16-18"Do you feel secure that He who is above would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway? Or do you feel secure that He who is above would not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [severe] was My warning. And already had those before them denied, and how [terrible] was My reproach."
Al-Mulk 67:16-18, Saheeh International
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمَٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ ﴿١٩﴾ أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي هُوَ جُندٌ لَّكُمْ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ ۚ إِنِ الْكَافِرُونَ إِلَّا فِي غُرُورٍ ﴿٢٠﴾ أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُ ۚ بَل لَّجُّوا فِي عُتُوٍّ وَنُفُورٍ ﴿٢١﴾
الملك: 19-21"Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing. Or who is it that could be an army for you to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion. Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion."
Al-Mulk 67:19-21, Saheeh International
أَفَمَن يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ أَهْدَىٰ أَمَّن يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٢٢﴾ قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۖ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي ذَرَأَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾
الملك: 22-24"Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path? Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]; little are you grateful." Say, "It is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.""
Al-Mulk 67:22-24, Saheeh International
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿٢٥﴾ قُلْ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٢٦﴾ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةً سِيئَتْ وُجُوهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَقِيلَ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِ تَدَّعُونَ ﴿٢٧﴾
الملك: 25-27"And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?" Say, "The knowledge is only with Allāh, and I am only a clear warner." But when they see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be distressed, and it will be said, "This is that for which you used to call.""
Al-Mulk 67:25-27, Saheeh International
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِيَ اللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِيَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ الْكَافِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ﴿٢٨﴾ قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿٢٩﴾ قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاءٍ مَّعِينٍ ﴿٣٠﴾
الملك: 28-30"Say, [O Muḥammad], "Have you considered: whether Allāh should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?" Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied. And you will [come to] know who it is that is in clear error." Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?""
Al-Mulk 67:28-30, Saheeh International
Listening to Surah Al-Mulk
Quran Orb's own recording of Surah Al-Mulk, recited by Maher Al-Muaiqly in Hafs, runs 5 minutes and 26 seconds, short enough to fit into the few minutes before sleep or right after a prayer.
Frequently asked questions
How many ayat does Surah Al-Mulk have?
Thirty. That count is itself part of the one verified hadith about the surah, which describes it as "a Surah in the Qur'an of thirty Ayat" (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2891, graded hasan).
Is Surah Al-Mulk Makkan or Madani?
Makkan. It was revealed in Makkah, before the migration to Madinah, and its themes, creation, the Hereafter, and the sovereignty of Allah, are typical of the Makkan surahs.
What does the name Al-Mulk mean?
Al-Mulk means dominion or sovereignty. The surah opens by declaring that dominion belongs entirely to Allah, and the name comes from that opening line.
Is there an authentic hadith about reciting Surah Al-Mulk before sleep?
Only indirectly. The verified hadith (Tirmidhi 2891, hasan) describes the surah's general virtue of intercession, with no mention of night. A separate report that ties it specifically to bedtime is graded weak, so it is not repeated here as if it were established.
What is Surah Al-Mulk mainly about?
Allah's sole ownership of creation, proven by the flawless order of the heavens, the fate of those who deny the Hereafter, and a closing series of questions that leave the listener with nowhere to turn but to Him.
Sources
- Saheeh International, English translation of the Quran
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir
- Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2891, graded hasan