سورة الملك
Surah Al-Mulk
The Sovereignty
Surah Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty) is the 67th surah of the Quran. It has 30 verses and is a Meccan surah. Below is the complete Arabic text with an English translation and transliteration, verse by verse.
Also searched as: Surah Mulk · Tabarak
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
تَبَٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِي بِيَدِهِ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ وَ هُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءࣲ قَدِيرٌ﴿١﴾
Tabaraka allathee biyadihi almulku wahuwa ʿala kulli shayin qadeerun
Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent -
ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلࣰا ۚ وَ هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ﴿٢﴾
Allathee khalaqa almawta waalhayata liyabluwakum ayyukum ahsanu ʿamalan wahuwa alʿazeezu alghafooru
[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 -
ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَٰوَٰتࣲ طِبَاقࣰا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ مِن تَفَٰوُتࣲ ۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورࣲ﴿٣﴾
Allathee khalaqa sabʿa samawatin tibaqan ma tara fee khalqi alrrahmani min tafawutin fairjiʿi albasara hal tara min futoorin
[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 ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئࣰا وَ هُوَ حَسِيرࣱ﴿٤﴾
Thumma irjiʿi albasara karratayni yanqalib ilayka albasaru khasian wahuwa haseerun
Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued.
وَ لَقَدۡ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَ جَعَلۡنَٰهَا رُجُومࣰا لِّلشَّيَٰطِينِ ۖ وَ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ﴿٥﴾
Walaqad zayyanna alssamaa alddunya bimasabeeha wajaʿalnaha rujooman lilshshayateeni waaʿtadna lahum ʿathaba alssaʿeeri
And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with lamps [i.e., stars] and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.
وَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِمۡ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَ بِئۡسَ ٱلۡمَصِيرُ﴿٦﴾
Walillatheena kafaroo birabbihim ʿathabu jahannama wabisa almaseeru
And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination.
إِذَآ أُلۡقُواْ فِيهَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَهِيقࣰا وَ هِيَ تَفُورُ﴿٧﴾
Itha olqoo feeha samiʿoo laha shaheeqan wahiya tafooru
When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up.
تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلۡغَيۡظِ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلۡقِيَ فِيهَا فَوۡجࣱ سَأَلَهُمۡ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمۡ يَأۡتِكُمۡ نَذِيرࣱ﴿٨﴾
Takadu tamayyazu mina alghaythi kullama olqiya feeha fawjun saalahum khazanatuha alam yatikum natheerun
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?"
قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ قَدۡ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرࣱ فَكَذَّبۡنَا وَ قُلۡنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَيۡءٍ إِنۡ أَنتُمۡ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَٰلࣲ كَبِيرࣲ﴿٩﴾
Qaloo bala qad jaana natheerun fakaththabna waqulna ma nazzala Allahu min shayin in antum illa fee dalalin kabeerin
They will say, "Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, 'Allāh has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.'"
وَ قَالُواْ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِيٓ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ﴿١٠﴾
Waqaloo law kunna nasmaʿu aw naʿqilu ma kunna fee ashabi alssaʿeeri
And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze."
فَٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذَنۢبِهِمۡ فَسُحۡقࣰا لِّأَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ﴿١١﴾
Faiʿtarafoo bithanbihim fasuhqan liashabi alssaʿeeri
And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةࣱ وَ أَجۡرࣱ كَبِيرࣱ﴿١٢﴾
Inna allatheena yakhshawna rabbahum bialghaybi lahum maghfiratun waajrun kabeerun
Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward.
وَ أَسِرُّواْ قَوۡلَكُمۡ أَوِ ٱجۡهَرُواْ بِهِۦٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ﴿١٣﴾
Waasirroo qawlakum awi ijharoo bihi innahu ʿaleemun bithati alssudoori
And conceal your speech or publicize it; indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
أَلَا يَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ خَلَقَ وَ هُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ﴿١٤﴾
Ala yaʿlamu man khalaqa wahuwa allateefu alkhabeeru
Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Aware?
هُوَ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ ذَلُولࣰا فَٱمۡشُواْ فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَ كُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِۦ ۖ وَ إِلَيۡهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ﴿١٥﴾
Huwa allathee jaʿala lakumu alarda thaloolan faimshoo fee manakibiha wakuloo min rizqihi wailayhi alnnushooru
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 فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخۡسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُ﴿١٦﴾
Aamintum man fee alssamai an yakhsifa bikumu alarda faitha hiya tamooru
Do you feel secure that He who is above would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?
أَمۡ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرۡسِلَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ حَاصِبࣰا ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ كَيۡفَ نَذِيرِ﴿١٧﴾
Am amintum man fee alssamai an yursila ʿalaykum hasiban fasataʿlamoona kayfa natheeri
Or do you feel secure that He who is above would not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [severe] was My warning.
وَ لَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ﴿١٨﴾
Walaqad kaththaba allatheena min qablihim fakayfa kana nakeeri
And already had those before them denied, and how [terrible] was My reproach.
أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَٰٓفَّٰتࣲ وَ يَقۡبِضۡنَ ۚ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ﴿١٩﴾
Awalam yaraw ila alttayri fawqahum saffatin wayaqbidna ma yumsikuhunna illa alrrahmanu innahu bikulli shayin baseerun
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.
أَمَّنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي هُوَ جُندࣱ لَّكُمۡ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِي غُرُورٍ﴿٢٠﴾
Amman hatha allathee huwa jundun lakum yansurukum min dooni alrrahmani ini alkafiroona illa fee ghuroorin
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.
أَمَّنۡ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي يَرۡزُقُكُمۡ إِنۡ أَمۡسَكَ رِزۡقَهُۥ ۚ بَل لَّجُّواْ فِي عُتُوࣲّ وَ نُفُورٍ﴿٢١﴾
Amman hatha allathee yarzuqukum in amsaka rizqahu bal lajjoo fee ʿutuwwin wanufoorin
Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.
أَفَمَن يَمۡشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجۡهِهِۦٓ أَهۡدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمۡشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطࣲ مُّسۡتَقِيمࣲ﴿٢٢﴾
Afaman yamshee mukibban ʿala wajhihi ahda amman yamshee sawiyyan ʿala siratin mustaqeemin
Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنشَأَكُمۡ وَ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَ ٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَ ٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ ۚ قَلِيلࣰا مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ﴿٢٣﴾
Qul huwa allathee anshaakum wajaʿala lakumu alssamʿa waalabsara waalafidata qaleelan ma tashkuroona
Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]; little are you grateful."
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلَّذِي ذَرَأَكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَ إِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ﴿٢٤﴾
Qul huwa allathee tharaakum fee alardi wailayhi tuhsharoona
Say, "It is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered."
وَ يَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلۡوَعۡدُ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ﴿٢٥﴾
Wayaqooloona mata hatha alwaʿdu in kuntum sadiqeena
And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"
قُلۡ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡعِلۡمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرࣱ مُّبِينࣱ﴿٢٦﴾
Qul innama alʿilmu ʿinda Allahi wainnama ana natheerun mubeenun
Say, "The knowledge is only with Allāh, and I am only a clear warner."
فَلَمَّا رَأَوۡهُ زُلۡفَةࣰ سِيٓـَٔتۡ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَ قِيلَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ﴿٢٧﴾
Falamma raawhu zulfatan seeat wujoohu allatheena kafaroo waqeela hatha allathee kuntum bihi taddaʿoona
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."
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَهۡلَكَنِيَ ٱللَّهُ وَ مَن مَّعِيَ أَوۡ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمࣲ﴿٢٨﴾
Qul araaytum in ahlakaniya Allahu waman maʿiya aw rahimana faman yujeeru alkafireena min ʿathabin aleemin
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Have you considered: whether Allāh should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?"
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَ عَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلۡنَا ۖ فَسَتَعۡلَمُونَ مَنۡ هُوَ فِي ضَلَٰلࣲ مُّبِينࣲ﴿٢٩﴾
Qul huwa alrrahmanu amanna bihi waʿalayhi tawakkalna fasataʿlamoona man huwa fee dalalin mubeenin
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."
قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِنۡ أَصۡبَحَ مَآؤُكُمۡ غَوۡرࣰا فَمَن يَأۡتِيكُم بِمَآءࣲ مَّعِينِۭ﴿٣٠﴾
Qul araaytum in asbaha maokum ghawran faman yateekum bimain maʿeenin
Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?"
Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration
About this surah
Name
The Surah takes its name al-Mulk from the very first sentence.
Period of Revelation
It could not be known from any authentic tradition when this Surah was revealed, but the subject matter and the style indicate that it is one of the earliest Surahs to be revealed at Makkah.
Theme and Subject Matter
In this surah, on the one hand, the teachings of Islam have been introduced briefly, and, on the other, the people living in heedlessness have been aroused from their slumber in a most effective way. A characteristic of the earliest surahs of the Makkan period is that they present the entire teachings of Islam and the object of the Holy Prophet's mission, not in detail, but briefly, so that they are assimilated by the people easily. Moreover, they are particularly directed to make the people shun heedlessness, to make them think, and to arouse their dormant conscience.
In the first five verses man has been made to realize that the universe in which he lives is a most well organized and fortified Kingdom in which he cannot detect any fault, any weakness or flaw, how ever hard he may try to probe. This Kingdom has been brought from nothing into existence by Allah Almighty Himself and All the powers of controlling, administering and ruling it are also entirely in Allah's hand and His power is infinite. Besides, man has also been told that in this wise system he has not been created without a purpose, but he has been sent here for a test and in this test he can succeed only by his righteous deeds and conduct.
In vv. 6-11, dreadful consequences of disbelief which will appear in the Hereafter have been mentioned, and the people told that Allah, by sending His Prophets, has warned them of these consequences in this very world, as if to say "Now, if you do not believe in what the Prophets say and correct your attitude and behavior accordingly, in the Hereafter you will yourself have to admit that you really deserved the punishment that was being meted out to you."
In vv. 12-15, the truth that has been impressed on the minds is that the Creator cannot be unaware of His creation, as if to say: "He is aware of each open and hidden secret of yours, even of the innermost ideas of your hearts. Hence, the right basis of morality is that man should avoid evil, fearing the accountability of the unseen God, whether in the world there is a power to take him to task for this or not, and whether in the world there is a possibility of being harmed by such a power or not. Those who adopt such a conduct in the world alone will deserve forgiveness and a rich reward in the Hereafter."
In vv. 15-23, making allusions, one after the other to those common truths of daily occurrence, which man does not regard as worthy of much attention, he has been invited to consider them seriously. It has been said: "Look: the earth on which you move about with full satisfaction and peace of mind, and from which you obtain your sustenance has been subdued for you by Allah; otherwise this earth might at any time start shaking suddenly so as to cause your destruction, or a typhoon might occur, which may annihilate you completely. Look at the birds that fly above you; it is only Allah Who is sustaining them in the air. Look at your own means and resources: if Allah wills to inflict you with a scourge, none can save you from it; and if Allah wills to close the doors of sustenance on you, none can open them for you. These things are there to make you aware of the truth, but you see them like animals, which are unable to draw conclusions from observations, and you do not use your sight, hearing and minds which Allah has bestowed on you as men; that is why you do not see the right way."
In vv. 24-27, it has been said: "You have ultimately to appear before your God in any case. It is not for the Prophet to tell you the exact time and date of the event. His only duty is to warn you beforehand of its inevitable occurrence. Today you do not listen to him and demand that he should cause the event to occur and appear prematurely before you; but when it does occur, and you see it with your own eyes, you will then be astounded. Then, it will be said to you "This is the very thing you were calling to be hastened."
In vv. 28-29 replies have been given to what the disbelievers of Makkah said against the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) and his Companions. They cursed the Holy Prophet and prayed for his and the believers destruction. To this it has been said: "Whether those who call you to the right way are destroyed, or shown mercy by Allah, how will their fate change your destiny? You should look after yourselves and consider who would save you if you were overtaken by the scourge of God?You regard those who believe in God and put their trust in Him as the misguided. A time will come when it will become evident as to who was misguided in actual truth.
In conclusion, the people have been asked this question and left to ponder over it "If the water which has come out from the earth at some place in the desert or hill country of Arabia and upon which depends your whole life activity, should sink and vanish underground, who beside Allah can restore to you this life giving water?"
Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran