Surah Al-Mulk — 'The Sovereignty' — is thirty ayahs the Prophet ﷺ specifically connected to protection in the grave: authentic narrations describe it interceding for its companion until they are forgiven (graded hasan, Jami' at-Tirmidhi), and many of the salaf would not sleep before reciting it. It opens with the hand of Allah holding all dominion and closes with the question that silences every argument: if your water sank into the earth, who would bring you flowing water?
Surah Al-Mulk is the 67th chapter of the Qur'an, a Meccan surah of 30 verses. Its name means “The Sovereignty”, and it opens by saying that dominion is in the hand of the One who created death and life to test which of us is best in deed. It then invites the reader to look at the sky and find a flaw.
Surah Al-Mulk at a glance
| Surah number | 67 of 114 |
|---|---|
| Arabic name | سُورَةُ المُلۡكِ |
| Name in English | Al-Mulk — “The Sovereignty” |
| Verses (ayahs) | 30 |
| Revealed in | Makkah |
| Juz | 29 |
| Length in the Mushaf | about 3 pages |
Dominion, and the test
The surah opens blessing the One in whose hand is dominion, who created death and life as a test of which of us is best in deed, and who created seven heavens in layers. It challenges the reader to return their vision to the sky and look for breaks — and to look twice more, until the vision returns humbled and fatigued.
The exchange in Hell
It describes those thrown into Hell being asked by its keepers whether no warner came to them, and their answer: a warner did come, and we denied him. They add that had they listened or reasoned, they would not be among its companions — and they admit their sin.
Questions to the deniers
The closing section is a series of questions: who is it that could be an army for you against the Most Merciful; who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision; and if your water were to become sunken into the earth, who could bring you flowing water? Each leaves the answer to the reader.
Read Surah Al-Mulk in full
The Arabic below is the Uthmani script, with a Roman transliteration to help you sound out each verse and the Sahih International English translation of the meaning. If you are learning to recite it, read the Arabic line first and use the transliteration only to check yourself — leaning on it slows real reading down.
Listen to Surah Al-Mulk (Mishary Al-Afasy)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ تَبَٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ
Tabaarakal lazee biyadihil mulku wa huwa 'alaa kulli shai-in qadeer
Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent -
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ
Allazee khalaqal mawta walhayaata liyabluwakum ayyukum ahsanu 'amalaa; wa huwal 'azeezul ghafoor
[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 -
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَٰوَٰتٍۢ طِبَاقًۭا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ مِن تَفَٰوُتٍۢ ۖ فَٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍۢ
Allazee khalaqa sab'a samaawaatin tibaaqam maa taraa fee khalqir rahmaani min tafaawutin farji'il basara hal taraa min futoor
[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?
ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًۭا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌۭ
Summar ji'il basara karrataini yanqalib ilaikal basaru khaasi'anw wa huwa haseer
Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued.
وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَٰهَا رُجُومًۭا لِّلشَّيَٰطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
Wa laqad zaiyannas samaaa'ad dunyaa bimasaa beeha wa ja'alnaahaa rujoomal lish shayaateeni wa a'tadnaa lahum 'azaabas sa'eer
And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.
وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Wa lillazeena kafaroo bi rabbihim 'azaabu jahannama wa bi'sal maseer
And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination.
إِذَآ أُلْقُوا۟ فِيهَا سَمِعُوا۟ لَهَا شَهِيقًۭا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ
Izaaa ulqoo feehaa sami'oo lahaa shaheeqanw wa hiya tafoor
When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up.
تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلْقِىَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌۭ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌۭ
Takaadu tamayyazu minal ghaizi kullamaaa uliqya feehaa fawjun sa alahum khazanatuhaaa alam yaatikum nazeer
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?"
قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌۭ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ كَبِيرٍۢ
Qaaloo balaa qad jaaa'anaa nazeerun fakazzabnaa wa qulnaa maa nazzalal laahu min shai in in antum illaa fee dalaalin kabeer
They will say," Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, 'Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.'"
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
Wa qaaloo law kunnaa nasma'u awna'qilu maa kunnaa feee as haabis sa'eer
And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze."
فَٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًۭا لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
Fa'tarafoo bizambihim fasuhqal li as haabis sa'eer
And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌۭ وَأَجْرٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ
Innal lazeena yakhshawna rabbahum bilghaibi lahum maghfiratunw wa ajrun kabeer
Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward.
وَأَسِرُّوا۟ قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ ٱجْهَرُوا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Wa asirroo qawlakum awijharoo bihee innahoo 'aleemum bizaatis sudoor
And conceal your speech or publicize it; indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
Alaa ya'lamu man khalaq wa huwal lateeful khabeer
Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًۭا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِى مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ
Huwal lazee ja'ala lakumul arda zaloolan famshoo fee manaakibihaa wa kuloo mir rizqihee wa ilaihin nushoor
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.
ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ
'A-amintum man fissamaaa'i aiyakhsifa bi kumul arda fa izaa hiya tamoor
Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?
أَمْ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًۭا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ
Am amintum man fissamaaa'i ai yursila 'alaikum haasiban fasata'lamoona kaifa nazeer
Or do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [severe] was My warning.
وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
Wa laqad kazzabal lazeena min qablihim fakaifa kaana nakeer
And already had those before them denied, and how [terrible] was My reproach.
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَٰٓفَّٰتٍۢ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۭ بَصِيرٌ
Awalam yaraw ilat tairi fawqahum saaaffaatinw wa yaqbidn; maa yumsikuhunna illaar rahmaan; innahoo bikulli shai im baseer
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.
أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌۭ لَّكُمْ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ
Amman haazal lazee huwa jundul lakum yansurukum min doonir rahmaan; inilkaafiroona illaa fee ghuroor
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.
أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُۥ ۚ بَل لَّجُّوا۟ فِى عُتُوٍّۢ وَنُفُورٍ
Amman haazal lazee yarzuqukum in amsaka rizqah; bal lajjoo fee 'utuwwinw wa nufoor
Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.
أَفَمَن يَمْشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦٓ أَهْدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمْشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ
Afamai yamshee mukibban 'alaa wajhihee ahdaaa ammany yamshee sawiyyan 'alaa siratim mustaqeem
Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۖ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ
Qul huwal lazee ansha akum wa ja'ala lakumus sam'a wal absaara wal af'idata qaleelam maa tashkuroon
Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful."
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
Qul huwal lazee zara akum fil ardi wa ilaihi tuhsharoon
Say, "It is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered."
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ
Wa yaqooloona mataa haazal wa'du in kuntum saadiqeen
And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"
قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْعِلْمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ
Qul innamal 'ilmu 'indallaahi wa innamaaa ana nazeerum mubeen
Say, "The knowledge is only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner."
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةًۭ سِيٓـَٔتْ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَقِيلَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ
Falaammaa ra-awhu zulfatan seee'at wujoohul lazeena kafaroo wa qeela haazal lazee kuntum bihee tadda'oon
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."
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِىَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍۢ
Qul ara'aytum in ahlaka niyal laahu wa mam ma'iya aw rahimanaa famai-yujeerul kaafireena min 'azaabin aleem
Say, [O Muhammad], "Have you considered: whether Allah should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?"
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ
Qul huwar rahmaanu aamannaa bihee wa 'alaihi tawakkalnaa fasata'lamoona man huwa fee dalaalim mubeen
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."
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَآؤُكُمْ غَوْرًۭا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَآءٍۢ مَّعِينٍۭ
Qul ara'aytum in asbaha maaa'ukum ghawran famai yaateekum bimaaa'im ma'een
Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?"
Learning Surah Al-Mulk
Al-Mulk is 30 verses of moderate length and is one of the most commonly memorised surahs outside Juz 30. Its closing run of questions has a repeating shape that makes the last third go quickly.
Why memorize Surah Al-Mulk?
Because it's the highest reward-to-effort ratio in the Quran for a new memorizer: just three pages, and it becomes a nightly companion for life. Al-Mulk is the single most requested surah among our adult students — and our mining shows it's the most searched memorization goal online, too.
How long does Surah Al-Mulk take to memorize?
Honest answer: it depends on your daily portion and whether someone is correcting you. Surah Al-Mulk is about 41 lines of mushaf text. Here is what that means at three realistic paces — each assuming you also run the revision cycle (which is what makes it permanent):
| Pace | New memorization per day | Time to finish Surah Al-Mulk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxed | ~3 lines | about 2 weeks | Busy adults, first-time memorizers |
| Steady | ~5 lines | about 9 days | Most students — the sweet spot |
| Focused | ~10 lines | about 5 days | Experienced memorizers, school holidays |
Add roughly a consolidation week at the end — the point where you can recite the whole surah to a listener without prompts. Our guide to how long the whole Quran takes uses the same arithmetic.
The smart way to memorize Surah Al-Mulk
Tie it to your night routine from day one. Memorize 3–4 ayahs a day and recite everything you have, every night before sleep — the nightly recitation is both the sunnah-inspired habit and the revision system, fused into one. The surah falls into three clean panels: the King and His flawless creation (1–5), the fate of those who denied (6–14, pivoting on 'Does He who created not know?'), and the confrontation of the deniers with their Lord's signs (15–30). Ten days of new material, thirty nights of recitation, and it's yours permanently.
A milestone plan for Surah Al-Mulk
At the steady pace (~5 lines a day), Surah Al-Mulk breaks into four milestones. Print our free planner PDF and mark them off:
| Portion | New-memorization time | Cumulative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone 1 | Ayahs 1–7 | ~2 days | Day 2 |
| Milestone 2 | Ayahs 8–14 | ~2 days | Day 4 |
| Milestone 3 | Ayahs 15–21 | ~2 days | Day 6 |
| Milestone 4 | Ayahs 22–30 | ~3 days | Day 9 |
The method: sabaq, sabqi, manzil
Serious memorization runs on the classic three-cycle system used in hifz institutes worldwide: sabaq (today's new portion), sabqi (the recent pages, revised daily until solid), and manzil (older material, cycled weekly so it never fades). Our Hifz course is built on exactly this cycle, and our free memorization planner PDF gives you printable sabaq–sabqi–manzil grids to track it.
Why memorize with a live teacher
Self-memorization has one fatal flaw: you cannot hear your own mistakes. A mispronounced letter or shortened madd, repeated twenty times during memorization, becomes near-permanent — teachers call it 'memorizing your mistakes'. In a live one-to-one lesson on our synchronized Quran screen, every slip is corrected the moment it happens, before it settles. Recitation is checked ayah by ayah, revision is scheduled for you, and the first lesson is a free trial.