Dua & Sunnah

Reciting Surah Al-Mulk Before Sleep: A Shield in the Grave

Daily Evening Routine
QuranQuran 67:1-29

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا مَّا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَاوُتٍ فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ ثُمَّ ارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ الْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَاهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَاطِينِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ السَّعِيرِ وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ إِذَا أُلْقُوا فِيهَا سَمِعُوا لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِيَ تَفُورُ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَاءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ كَبِيرٍ وَقَالُوا لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِي أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ فَاعْتَرَفُوا بِذَنبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِّأَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ وَأَسِرُّوا قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ اجْهَرُوا بِهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ أَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُ أَمْ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِي السَّمَاءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمَـٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ أَمَّنْ هَـٰذَا الَّذِي هُوَ جُندٌ لَّكُمْ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۚ إِنِ الْكَافِرُونَ إِلَّا فِي غُرُورٍ أَمَّنْ هَـٰذَا الَّذِي يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُ ۚ بَل لَّجُّوا فِي عُتُوٍّ وَنُفُورٍ أَفَمَن يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ أَهْدَىٰ أَمَّن يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۖ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي ذَرَأَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ قُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا يَوْمَ يَفْتَحُ بَابًا وَيَخْتِمُهُ الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ قُل لَّوْ أَنتُمْ تَمْلِكُونَ خَزَائِنَ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّي إِذًا لَّأَمْسَكْتُمْ خَشْيَةَ الْإِنفَاقِ ۚ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ قَتُورًا وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ فَاخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ مُرِيبٍ

Blessed is He in Whose hand is the dominion, and He has power over all things. [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. [He] who created seven heavens in layers. You will not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any imperfection. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks? Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is weary. And We have certainly, as an adornment of the nearest heaven, stars and [made them] protection against the devil, for them. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination. When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhalation while it is boiling up. It almost bursts from rage. Every time a group 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, "Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in [an] error [that is] great.' " And they will say, 'If only we had listened or used reason, we would not be among the companions of the blazing fire.' And they will confess their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the blazing fire. Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and a great reward. And conceal your speech or declare it; indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts. Does He who created not know? And He is the Subtle, the Acquainted. It is He who made for you the earth tame, so walk among its corners and eat of His provision, and to Him is the [final] resurrection. Do you feel secure that the [one] in the heaven will not cause you to be swallowed by the earth when it begins to tremble? Or do you feel secure that the [one] in the heaven will not send against you a storm of stones, for you will know how [was] My warning. And you already denied those before you, and how was My reproach? Do they not see the birds above them with wings extended and retracting? None holds them [in the sky] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing. Or is this soldier of yours coming to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion. Or is this one who can provide for you if He withholds His provision? Rather, they have persisted in arrogance and aversion. Then is one who walks fallen on his face more guided or one who walks upright on a straight path? Say, 'It is He who produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful.' Say, 'It is He who dispersed you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.' And they say, 'When is this promise, if you are truthful?' Say, 'The knowledge is only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner.' But when they see it [i.e., the punishment] approaching, the faces of those who disbelieved will darken, and it will be said, 'This is that which you were requesting.' Say, 'Have you considered: if Allah should destroy me and those with me or have mercy upon us, who would protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?' Say, 'He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and we have relied upon Him, and you will know who it is that is in clear error.'

Tabarakalladhi biyadihil-mulku wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir... (full Surah Al-Mulk)

When to Read

This practice is recommended for the evening, before going to sleep, as part of one's daily spiritual routine.

How to Read

Recite the entire Surah Al-Mulk with sincere intention and focus, contemplating its meanings and seeking Allah's protection.

Virtues & Benefits

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'There is a Surah in the Quran which is thirty verses, which intercedes for its reader until he is forgiven. It is Surah Tabarakalladhi Biyadihil-Mulku.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2891, graded Hasan). Another narration states: 'Whoever recites Surah Al-Mulk every night, Allah will protect him from the punishment of the grave.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 4042, related contextually, specific wording varies but the meaning is established). This practice is a means of seeking Allah's mercy and protection, both in this life and the hereafter, particularly safeguarding one from the terrors of the grave.

Source & Authentication

Narrated Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'A Surah was revealed about the Quran, which is thirty verses long and has interceded for a man, and it was taken out, and it is [Surah] Tabarakalladhi Biyadihil-Mulku. And it said, 'O Lord, forgive him, for he used to recite it.' And it will say, 'Why does not a man from you recite Surah Al-Mulk?' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2891). Narrated Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Surah Al-Mulk is the protector from the torment of the grave.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 4042, mentioned in relation to its virtue).
QuranQuran 67:1-29
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