NAME: الملك, Al-Mulk.

Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word ”Mulk”.

١  تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
1  Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent

But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.

ENGLISH NAME: Dominion/Sovereignty.

CHAPTER NUMBER: 67

SURAH MULK TOTAL VERSES: 30

SURAH MULK TOTAL WORDS: 333

TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 224

TOTAL LETTERS: 1,347

REVELATION PERIOD:

Meccan, Approx. 614 – 617 AD.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

God, Prophet Muhammad, Satan/Devil, Warden Of Hell, Man/Humans. 

SURAH MULK MAIN TOPICS:

Purpose of Creation, No Flaw In Creation/Heavens, Nearest Heaven Has Tools to Repel Devils, Birds In Sky; No one Holds Them Except God, Rewards and Warnings.

SURAH MULK KEY VERSES:

٢  الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ

2  [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 –

٣  الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ مَا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنْ تَفَاوُتٍ ۖ فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِنْ فُطُورٍ

3  [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?

٧  إِذَا أُلْقُوا فِيهَا سَمِعُوا لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِيَ تَفُورُ

7  When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up.

١٩  أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمَٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ

19  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.

SUMMARY OF TOPICS

1-4(Purpose Of Creation Of Death And Life is to Test Which one is Best in Deeds, 7 Seven Heavens Above Each other, No Flaw), 5(Nearest Heaven Decorated With Stars, And God have made [from] them (Missiles) what is thrown at the devils), 7(Noise Of Hell), 8-11(Warden Of Hell Ask To Every New Party Thrown In Hell Whether Warners Came To Them Or Not), 12-18(God Knows If You conceal your speech or publicize It, Warnings), 19(Birds In Sky; No one Holds Them Except The Most Merciful), 20-30(God’s Favors On Us; Hearing Sight Provision, Warnings And Admonitions)

SURAH MULK BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND

This Surah has 30 verses divided into 2 Rukus/Sections. It takes its name from verse 1: “….   تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ” ( Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion…..) where the word “الْمُلْكُ” meaning “Dominion/Sovereignty” appears. This Surah was revealed in Mecca most probably during the early days of Muhammad’s proclamation of his prophethood.

It talks about the greatness of God and the magnificent universe that He has created.  It urges Mankind that if they consider the laws of nature and travel in the Earth with unbiased eyes, they will indeed see that this whole dominion belongs to God, and He alone controls everything.

Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded from Abu Hurayrah that Prophet of God PBUH said,

إِنَّ سُورَةً فِي الْقُرْآنِ ثَلَاثِينَ آيَةً شَفَعَتْ لِصَاحِبِهَا حَتْى غُفِرَ لَهُ:

Indeed, there is a chapter in the Quran, which contains 30 verses that will intercede on behalf of its reciter until he is forgiven. It is تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

At Tabarani recorded from Anas that the Prophet of God PBUH  said,

سُورَةٌ فِي الْقُرْآنِ خَاصَمَتْ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا حَتْى أَدْخَلَتْهُ الْجَنَّةَ:

There is a chapter of the Qur’an that will argue on behalf of its reciter until it causes him to enter into Paradise. It is تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ

Khalid bin Madan said, “Recite تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى i.e., Surah Mulk., “It will dispute on behalf of the person who recites it when he is in his grave saying, ‘O’ God, if I am part of your Book, please make me an intercessor for him. But if I am not a part of Quran your Book, blot me out of it.’ It will be like a bird setting its wing on him; it will intercede for him and will protect him from the torment in the grave.”