سُوْرَةُ الْمُلْكِ
Surah Al-Mulk (67) — Ayah 1
تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Blessed be He in Whose Hand is the dominion; and He is Able to do all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
تَبَـٰرَكَ
tabāraka
Blessed is
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
He
بِيَدِهِ
biyadihi
in Whose Hand
ٱلْمُلْكُ
l-mul'ku
(is) the Dominion
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and He
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
(is) over
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
قَدِيرٌ
qadīrun
All-Powerful
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
Several narrations are mentioned regarding the virtue of this Surah, among which a few Sahih or Hasan hadiths are as follows: (1) It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ سُوْرَةً مِّنَ الْقُرْآنِ ثَلاَثُوْنَ آيَةً شَفَعَتْ لِرَجُلٍ حَتّٰي غُفِرَ لَهُ وَهِيَ سُوْرَةُ : «تَبٰرَكَ الَّذِيْ بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ» ] [ ترمذي، فضائل القرآن، باب ما جاء في فضل سورۃ الملک : ۲۸۹۱۔ أبو داوٗد : ۱۴۰۰، و حسنہ الألباني ] "A Surah of the Qur'an, which has thirty verses, interceded for a man until he was forgiven, and that Surah is « تَبٰرَكَ الَّذِيْ بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ»." (2) It is narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ سُوْرَةٌ مِّنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هِيَ إِلاَّ ثَلاَثُوْنَ آيَةً خَاصَمَتْ عَنْ صَاحِبِهَا حَتّٰي أَدْخَلَتْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَهِيَ سُوْرَةُ تَبَارَكَ ] [ المعجم الصغیر للطبراني : 296/1، ح : ۴۹۰، وصححہ الألباني۔ صحیح الجامع الصغیر : ۳۶۴۴ ] "A Surah of the Qur'an, which has only thirty verses, argued on behalf of its reciter until it made him enter Paradise, and that Surah is {’’ تَبٰرَكَ ‘‘} (Al-Mulk)." (3) It is narrated from Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not sleep until he recited «الٓمّٓ (1) تَنْزِيْلُ » and « تَبٰرَكَ الَّذِيْ بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ». [ سلسلۃ الأحادیث الصحیحۃ، ح : ۱۱۴۰ ] (4) It is narrated from Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not sleep until he recited « الٓمّٓ (1) تَنْزِيْلُ » and «تَبٰرَكَ الَّذِيْ بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ». [ ترمذي، فضائل القرآن، باب ما جاء في فضل سورۃ الملک : ۲۸۹۲، وصححہ الألباني ]
(Ayah 1) ➊ { تَبٰرَكَ الَّذِيْ بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ : ’’ تَبٰرَكَ ‘‘ ’’بَرَكَةٌ ‘‘} is from the form "tafā'ul." There is emphasis in it, so the translation is "very blessed." The meaning of {’’بَرَكَةٌ‘‘} is to be abundant, to increase. {’’ تَبٰرَكَ ‘‘} means that He surpasses the entire universe in goodness and virtue, and in elevation, greatness, and benevolence—in short, in every respect, His essence encompasses countless excellences and virtues. See also the commentary of the first verse of Surah Al-Furqan.
➋ By bringing { ’’ بِيَدِهِ ‘‘} first, exclusivity is created in the statement, so the translation is "only in His hand."
➌ Here a question arises: there are many kings in the world, so how did Allah say that all sovereignty is only in His hand? The answer is that the entire system of the world runs on mutual dependence; the subjects depend on the king for their needs, such as protection of life and property, honor and dignity, and religion and faith, and the king depends on the subjects to run his affairs—if they do not support him and do not pay taxes, he cannot remain king for even a moment. The same point is mentioned in Surah Az-Zukhruf, where it is said: « لِيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا » [ الزخرف : ۳۲ ] "So that some of them may take others into subjection." A poet has beautifully depicted the dependence of worldly kings:
The beggar is a beggar, whether he asks for charity or tribute,
Whether one accepts it or not, all lords and kings are beggars.
Besides this, whether someone is a king or a subject in this world, despite their mutual dependence, in reality neither of them possesses anything. Their own wealth and poverty, health and sickness, honor and disgrace, victory and defeat, youth and old age, profit and loss, and life and death—all are in the hands of Allah, the Owner of all sovereignty. So, what exaggeration is there in saying that all sovereignty is only in Allah's hand? If there is any other king, it is only in name. In reality, there is only one King; all others are beggars, as He said: « يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَآءُ اِلَى اللّٰهِ» [فاطر : ۱۵ ] "O people! You are the ones in need of Allah."
➍ The word { وَ هُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ: ’’ شَيْءٍ ‘‘ ’’شَاءَ يَشَاءُ‘‘} is a verbal noun with the meaning of a passive participle, meaning "will" or "wish." That is, He is capable of every will and everything; He can do whatever He wishes. Not like the kings of the world, whose countless wishes, instead of being fulfilled, become regrets and are buried with them in their graves.
(Ayah 1) ➊ { تَبٰرَكَ الَّذِيْ بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ : ’’ تَبٰرَكَ ‘‘ ’’بَرَكَةٌ ‘‘} is from the form "tafā'ul." There is emphasis in it, so the translation is "very blessed." The meaning of {’’بَرَكَةٌ‘‘} is to be abundant, to increase. {’’ تَبٰرَكَ ‘‘} means that He surpasses the entire universe in goodness and virtue, and in elevation, greatness, and benevolence—in short, in every respect, His essence encompasses countless excellences and virtues. See also the commentary of the first verse of Surah Al-Furqan.
➋ By bringing { ’’ بِيَدِهِ ‘‘} first, exclusivity is created in the statement, so the translation is "only in His hand."
➌ Here a question arises: there are many kings in the world, so how did Allah say that all sovereignty is only in His hand? The answer is that the entire system of the world runs on mutual dependence; the subjects depend on the king for their needs, such as protection of life and property, honor and dignity, and religion and faith, and the king depends on the subjects to run his affairs—if they do not support him and do not pay taxes, he cannot remain king for even a moment. The same point is mentioned in Surah Az-Zukhruf, where it is said: « لِيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا » [ الزخرف : ۳۲ ] "So that some of them may take others into subjection." A poet has beautifully depicted the dependence of worldly kings:
The beggar is a beggar, whether he asks for charity or tribute,
Whether one accepts it or not, all lords and kings are beggars.
Besides this, whether someone is a king or a subject in this world, despite their mutual dependence, in reality neither of them possesses anything. Their own wealth and poverty, health and sickness, honor and disgrace, victory and defeat, youth and old age, profit and loss, and life and death—all are in the hands of Allah, the Owner of all sovereignty. So, what exaggeration is there in saying that all sovereignty is only in Allah's hand? If there is any other king, it is only in name. In reality, there is only one King; all others are beggars, as He said: « يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَآءُ اِلَى اللّٰهِ» [فاطر : ۱۵ ] "O people! You are the ones in need of Allah."
➍ The word { وَ هُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ: ’’ شَيْءٍ ‘‘ ’’شَاءَ يَشَاءُ‘‘} is a verbal noun with the meaning of a passive participle, meaning "will" or "wish." That is, He is capable of every will and everything; He can do whatever He wishes. Not like the kings of the world, whose countless wishes, instead of being fulfilled, become regrets and are buried with them in their graves.
