Surah Al-Mulk — سُورَةُ الْمُلْك — is the 67th surah of the Quran, comprising 30 verses. The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is a surah in the Quran of thirty verses that will intercede for a man until he is forgiven. It is: Tabaraka alladhi biyadihil mulk.” (Abu Dawud 1400, Tirmidhi 2891, authenticated). He called it “Al-Mani’ah” — the Preventer — because it prevents the punishment of the grave. It is one of the most powerful surahs for night recitation.
The theme of Al-Mulk
Al-Mulk — sovereignty, dominion — is the theme. The surah opens: “Blessed is He in Whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent.” (67:1). It then addresses: the creation of death and life as a test of deeds (67:2), the creation of the heavens in perfect order (67:3-4), the fate of those who reject (67:5-11), the reward of those who fear Allah ﷻ in the unseen (67:12), and extended reflection on Allah’s ﷻ knowledge and control of all creation. It closes with the rhetorical question — if Allah ﷻ withheld your water, who could bring you flowing water? (67:30). It is a surah of divine sovereignty, human accountability, and the absolute dependence of creation on its Creator.
The practice
The Prophet ﷺ regularly recited Surah Al-Mulk before sleeping (Tirmidhi 2892). Scholars recommend making it a nightly wazifa — recited after the three Quls and before sleep. Its thirty verses, recited with presence and understanding, take approximately five minutes and carry the prophetic promise of intercession and protection from the punishment of the grave.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Surah Al-Mulk good for?
The Prophet ﷺ said it intercedes for its reciter until they are forgiven and prevents the punishment of the grave (Abu Dawud 1400). He recited it every night before sleeping (Tirmidhi 2892). Its theme is divine sovereignty and human accountability — reciting it with understanding builds the taqwa and muraqaba that protect in this life and the next. A nightly wazifa of Al-Mulk after the three Quls is among the most recommended bedtime practices.
The Preventer. It prevents the punishment of the grave. The Prophet ﷺ recited it every night. Thirty verses before sleep. Five minutes. That is the practice.