Virtues of Surah Al-Mulk
Parents often see long lists of virtues online. Here is what the references actually say, including how hadith scholars graded them:
- It intercedes until a person is forgiven. The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is a surah in the Quran of thirty verses which interceded for a man until he was forgiven: Tabarak alladhi biyadihil-mulk" (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2891, graded hasan; also Sunan Abi Dawud 1400).
- Recited before sleeping. Jabir reported that the Prophet ﷺ would not sleep until he had recited Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Al-Mulk (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2892). Scholars differ on this chain: some, such as al-Albani, graded it authentic, while others graded it weak.
- Protection in the grave. A statement of the Companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud describing Surah Al-Mulk as "the protector" from the punishment of the grave is reported by an-Nasa'i in as-Sunan al-Kubra and graded hasan by al-Albani.
We have deliberately left out claims we could not trace to a reliable source. Please check any virtue with a scholar before teaching it to children as certain.
Five lessons children can take from Al-Mulk
- Allah is in charge of everything (verse 1). "In whose hand is the dominion": every kingdom and every power belongs to Him.
- Life is a test of good deeds (verse 2). Allah created life and death "to test you, which of you is best in deed". Ask your child: what is one good deed you can do today?
- Look at the sky: no cracks! (verses 3-5). Allah invites us to look again and again at the heavens and find no flaw. Stargazing on a clear night is a perfect way to teach these verses.
- Who holds the birds up? (verse 19). Watch birds gliding and read: "None holds them except the Most Merciful."
- Every drop of water is a gift (verse 30). If our water sank deep into the earth, who could bring it back? A good verse for teaching gratitude and not wasting water.
A 6-week memorisation plan (5 verses a week)
| Week | Verses | Theme to discuss |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-5 | Allah's power; the perfect sky and the stars |
| 2 | 6-11 | The people who refused to listen (the week with the most verses to learn) |
| 3 | 12-15 | Allah knows what is in our hearts; the earth made easy to walk on |
| 4 | 16-20 | Safety comes only from Allah; the birds in the sky |
| 5 | 21-25 | Our provision, our hearing and sight are from Allah |
| 6 | 26-30 | Trusting Allah; the gift of water |
Each day: listen to the week's verses twice, repeat one new verse five times, then recite everything learned so far. On Fridays recite the whole portion to a parent or teacher. Older children (9+) can go faster; younger children may need two weeks per row. Slow, accurate memorisation is better than fast and shaky. Our sabaq, sabqi and manzil guide explains how to keep it from fading.
Surah Al-Mulk in Arabic and English
We have not added a transliteration for this longer surah: for 30 verses, transliteration tends to build pronunciation mistakes that are hard to undo. Children learn it best by listening to the audio and reading the Arabic with a teacher.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
تَبَٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١﴾
Meaning: Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent - (67:1)
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ ﴿٢﴾
Meaning: [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 - (67:2)
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَٰوَٰتٍۢ طِبَاقًۭا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ مِن تَفَٰوُتٍۢ ۖ فَٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍۢ ﴿٣﴾
Meaning: [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? (67:3)
ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًۭا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌۭ ﴿٤﴾
Meaning: Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued. (67:4)
وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَٰهَا رُجُومًۭا لِّلشَّيَٰطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿٥﴾
Meaning: 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. (67:5)
وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ﴿٦﴾
Meaning: And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination. (67:6)
إِذَآ أُلْقُوا۟ فِيهَا سَمِعُوا۟ لَهَا شَهِيقًۭا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ ﴿٧﴾
Meaning: When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up. (67:7)
تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلْقِىَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌۭ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌۭ ﴿٨﴾
Meaning: 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?" (67:8)
قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌۭ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ كَبِيرٍۢ ﴿٩﴾
Meaning: 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.'" (67:9)
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿١٠﴾
Meaning: And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze." (67:10)
فَٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًۭا لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿١١﴾
Meaning: And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze. (67:11)
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌۭ وَأَجْرٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ ﴿١٢﴾
Meaning: Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward. (67:12)
وَأَسِرُّوا۟ قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ ٱجْهَرُوا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ ﴿١٣﴾
Meaning: And conceal your speech or publicize it; indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts. (67:13)
أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ ﴿١٤﴾
Meaning: Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted? (67:14)
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًۭا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِى مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ ﴿١٥﴾
Meaning: 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. (67:15)
ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِىَ تَمُورُ ﴿١٦﴾
Meaning: 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? (67:16)
أَمْ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًۭا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ ﴿١٧﴾
Meaning: 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. (67:17)
وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ ﴿١٨﴾
Meaning: And already had those before them denied, and how [terrible] was My reproach. (67:18)
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَٰٓفَّٰتٍۢ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۭ بَصِيرٌ ﴿١٩﴾
Meaning: 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. (67:19)
أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى هُوَ جُندٌۭ لَّكُمْ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِى غُرُورٍ ﴿٢٠﴾
Meaning: 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. (67:20)
أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُۥ ۚ بَل لَّجُّوا۟ فِى عُتُوٍّۢ وَنُفُورٍ ﴿٢١﴾
Meaning: Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion. (67:21)
أَفَمَن يَمْشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦٓ أَهْدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمْشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ ﴿٢٢﴾
Meaning: Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path? (67:22)
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۖ قَلِيلًۭا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾
Meaning: Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful." (67:23)
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى ذَرَأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ﴿٢٤﴾
Meaning: Say, "It is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered." (67:24)
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ ﴿٢٥﴾
Meaning: And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?" (67:25)
قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْعِلْمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ﴿٢٦﴾
Meaning: Say, "The knowledge is only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner." (67:26)
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةًۭ سِيٓـَٔتْ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَقِيلَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ ﴿٢٧﴾
Meaning: 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." (67:27)
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِىَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍۢ ﴿٢٨﴾
Meaning: 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?" (67:28)
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا ۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ ﴿٢٩﴾
Meaning: 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." (67:29)
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَآؤُكُمْ غَوْرًۭا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَآءٍۢ مَّعِينٍۭ ﴿٣٠﴾
Meaning: Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?" (67:30)
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