Names
This surah is known by several names, including:
Surat Al-Mulk. [412] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/473.
It was narrated that Ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A man will be approached in his grave. His feet will be approached, but his feet will say: You cannot punish this man, for he used to recite Surat Al-Mulk whilst standing on us? [413] Narrated by At-Tabarani, 9/141, 8651; Al-Hakim, 3839; Abu Nu?aym: Hilyat Al-Awliya?, 7/248.
Surat Tabarak alladhi bi yadihi Al-mulk (Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion). [414] See: Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 29/5).
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ?There is a surah in the Qur?an, thirty verses long, which will intercede for a man until he is forgiven. It is Surat Tabarak alladhi bi yadihi Al-mulk (Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion).? [415] Narrated by Abu Dawud, 1400; At-Tirmidhi, 2891; Ibn Majah, 3786.
Virtues and characteristics
It was narrated that Ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A man will be approached in his grave. His feet will be approached, but his feet will say: You cannot punish this man, for he used to recite Surat Al-Mulk whilst standing on us. Then he will be approached from the direction of his chest and it will say: You cannot punish this man, for he used to recite Surat Al-Mulk by means of me. Then his head will be approached, and it will say: You cannot punish this man, for he used to recite Surat Al-Mulk by means of me. He said: It is the protector; it protects against the punishment of the grave, and in the Torah it is called Surat Al-Mulk. Whoever recites it in one night, has done a great deal and has done well. [416] Narrated by At-Tabarani, 9/141, 8651; Al-Hakim, 3839; Abu Nu?aym in Hilyat Al-Awliya?, 7/248.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: ?There is a surah in the Qur?an, thirty verses long, which will intercede for a man until he is forgiven. It is Surat Tabarak alladhi bi yadihi Al-mulk (Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion).? [417] Narrated by Abu Dawud, 1400; At-Tirmidhi, 2891; Ibn Majah, 3786.
Makki or Madani?
Surat Al-Mulk is Madani; more than one of the commentators narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [418] Those who narrated that there was consensus regarding that include: Al-Mawardi, Ibn ?Atiyyah and Al-Qurtubi. See: Tafsir Al-Mawardi, 6/49; Tafsir Ibn ?Atiyyah, 5/310; Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, 18/205.
Objectives
The most important objectives of this surah include:
Highlighting the great might of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, and the perfect nature of His dominion, which is indicative of His oneness. [419] See: Al-Biqa?i: Masa?id An-Nazr, 3/103; At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 15/6.
Topics
The most significant topics addressed in Surat Al-Mulk are:
The greatness of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,, and that He is the only one in Whose hand is dominion, and He has power over all things.
Highlighting the wisdom behind the creation of death and life.
Some of the manifestations of Allah?s power, and that He alone created the upper realms, a great creation made with the utmost precision.
The bad fate of the disbelievers, and what Allah has prepared for them of punishment; the good fate of the believers.
The vastness of Allah?s knowledge, and that nothing is hidden from Him, whether it is secret or open.
A reminder of the blessing of the creation of this earth, which has been made suitable for people to live in, and the command to travel throughout it and make use of the different types of blessings to be found in it.
Warning about the punishment of Allah, and a reminder of what happened to the disbelievers who came before.
Calling people to ponder and reflect on the sight of birds in the air, spreading and partially folding their wings and flapping them, in flight, and on their own condition, and that they have no helper other than Allah, and that if He were to withhold His provision, they would have no provider other than Him Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,.
Likenesses of the people of faith and the people of disbelief, the followers of truth and the followers of falsehood.
A rebuke to the polytheists for their ingratitude for the blessings of Allah, and their taking His warning lightly; the command to the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to remind them of the blessings that Allah had bestowed upon them, and to refute their specious arguments and lies in a way that would utterly refute them, and to refer his affairs and theirs to Allah alone.