The meaning of Al-Mulk is “The Sovereignty". It is the 67th chapter of the Quran, comprising 30 verses which are divided into two sections.
The core message of Surah Al-Mulk is the greatness of God and draws attention to the science and art of creation of life and death and this universe as a Sign of the majesty and power of the ever all-Compassionate. It gives the message that He controls each and everything in this universe and guidance is given to all mankind. Now, it’s on believers’ fas to how they follow and what they follow to gain the rewards in this world and here after.
Verses 1-5:
Mulk: Sovereignty, Kingdom, Dominion, the right to carry out His Will, or to do all that He wills. He is Ever All-Powerful over all things and He is over all things competent. He Who created Death and Life, in order to test who of you is best in deeds.
Death is here mentioned before Life. Death is the state of dormancy before life began. Death is therefore not merely a negative state. Allah is Lord of both.
“How can ye reject) the faith in Allah. seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again, to Him will ye return.” 2:28
Also see 53:44
All this is possible, because Allah is so Exalted in Might that He can perfectly carry out His Will and Purpose, and that Purpose is Love, Mercy, and Goodness to His creatures.
Allah Almighty Who created the seven heavens, one upon another in conformity (with each other) and beauty of the vast spaces and the marvellous bodies that follow regular laws of motion in those enormous spaces in the visible world.
For example (71:15, 67:3)
Look again and yet again (to find out any confusion in Divine law), observe and study as minutely as powers allow. You can see no flaw, no incongruity and no imperfection in the creation of the Most Compassionate. Allah tells us that He verily, He We (Allah) has beautified the lowest heaven with lamps, and He has made them missiles for the rebellious deviators, and for them He has prepared the torment of the Blaze.
Verses 6-10:
Those who disbelieve in their Lord will suffer the punishment of Hell. What a horrid destination! When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a dreadful inhaling while it boils up. Its Angeles will ask them, ‘Did no Warner come to you (from the Lord)?’. They will say, no doubt the warner came, and will confess that they failed to use their intellect and listen to the word of truth.
Verses 11-15:
They will confess to having committed sins. So woe to the residents of the Blaze, (when confession will be of no use). Indeed, those who fear their Lord, unseen, will have forgiveness and great reward. Allah Almighty knows well the inner most secrets of the hearts. To fear the Lord is to love Him so determinedly that one fears to do anything which is against His will, and he does it because he realizes Him immensely in his heart. Such intensity of love obtains forgiveness for any past, and is indeed rewarded with Allah's love.
He is (Allah) Who has made the earth harmonious-subservient for you, so traverse (far and deep) into its spacious paths for your material advancement. It is He Who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.
Verses 16-20:
Do you feel secure that He Who is above would not send against you any calamity or a storm of stones? And certainly, those before them denied ˹as well then how severe was response! If we get any sorrows or sufferings, they may be mere trials to make us better, for we believe in Allah's goodness and we put our trust in Him. Our faith tells us that Allah will deliver us from all harm if we sincerely repent and lead righteous lives. The disbelievers are only ˹lost˺ in delusion.
Have they not seen the birds above them, spreading and folding their wings? None holds them up except the Most Gracious. Indeed, He is All-Seeing of everything. Their motions upwards and downwards, as well as their stabilization in the air, and when they rest on their feet, have given many ideas to man in the science and art of aeronautics. But who taught or gave to birds these wonderful adaptations? None but Allah Almighty.
Verses 21-25:
God Almighty is the only Provider Who provides in this world. The man of probity is the man who walks evenly on a Straight Way, his feet guided by Allah's Light and his heart sustained by Allah's Mercy. The man who chooses evil grovels, with his face down, in paths of Darkness, stumbling on the way, and in constant distrust and fear, the fear of Evil. God Almighty is the One Who created you and endowed you with hearing, seeing, and hearts i.e., intellect; though you offer insufficient thanks.
Verses 26-30:
The knowledge is with Allah alone. But when they see the threatened punishment, the faces of those who disbelieve will become gloomy, and distressed. It will be said to them, this is what you used to ask for so persistently. He is the Ever All-Beneficent.
The last verse is a question left for thinking. Have you considered, if your water was to become sunken into the earth, then who could bring you flowing water? No one but God Almighty, who is the source for World`s existence. Life is with water. He can give life and take life. Allah has the ultimate wisdom and power.
Surah Al-Mulk is one of the greatest surahs in the Quran. We find many reports in the Hadith and the Sunnah telling us to recite this surah often.