Surah al-Mulk: 6 Strong Proofs of Protection from Grave Punishment

➤ Virtues of Surah al-Mulk: 6 Evidences of Protection from the Punishment of the Grave


Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 1 – Kitab al-Du‘a – Page 497
Surah al-Mulk and the Punishment of the Grave – Guidance in Light of Authentic Hadiths

❖ Question:​

Does the recitation of Surah al-Mulk protect a person from the punishment of the grave? Please provide guidance based on authentic Hadiths.

❖ Answer:​

Alhamdulillah, wa al-salatu wa al-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d!


The virtues of Surah al-Mulk (Chapter 67 – تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ... etc.) have been mentioned in the following narrations:

① Hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه)​

Text of the Hadith:
Yahya ibn ‘Amr ibn Malik al-Nakari narrated from his father, who narrated from Abu al-Jawza', who narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه):


A companion of the Prophet ﷺ pitched a tent on a grave, not realizing that it was a grave. Suddenly, he heard a man reciting Surah al-Mulk until he completed it. He came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I pitched a tent on a grave, and I didn’t know it was a grave. Then I heard someone reciting Surah al-Mulk until its completion."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"هي المانعة، هي المنجية، تنجيه من عذاب القبر"
"It is the preventer, the savior; it saves him from the punishment of the grave."


Reference:
Sunan al-Tirmidhi (4/47, Hadith 2890), Manuscript Edition p. 1/187


Authenticity:
This Hadith is weak.
– Imam al-Bayhaqi: Yahya ibn ‘Amr is weak (Ithbat ‘Adhab al-Qabr, Hadith 146)
– Hafiz al-Dhahabi: Weak (Al-Kashif 3/232)
– Hafiz Ibn Hajar: Weak; also cited that Hammad ibn Zayd called him a liar (Taqrib al-Tahdhib 7614)

② Hadith of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) – Intercession of Thirty Verses​

Text of the Hadith:
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه):


The Prophet ﷺ said:
"إن سورة من القرآن ثلاثون آية شفعت لرجل حتى غفر له، وهي تبارك الذي بيده الملك"
"A chapter from the Qur'an containing thirty verses interceded for a man until he was forgiven – and it is Surah Tabarak alladhi biyadihi al-mulk."


Reference:
Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2891)


Authenticity:
– Hasan li-Dhatihi
– Also narrated by Abu Dawud (Hadith 1400), Ibn Majah (Hadith 3786), Ibn Hibban (Mawarid al-Zam’an: 1766), al-Hakim (2/497–498)
– Authenticated by Imam al-Dhahabi


Note:
– Some criticisms are vague and therefore rejected.
– When Qatadah narrates from Shu‘bah, the hearing (sama‘) is preserved.

③ Hadith of Anas (رضي الله عنه) – Surah Tabarak Entered Him into Paradise​

Text of the Hadith:
Narrated by Anas (رضي الله عنه):


The Prophet ﷺ said:
"سورة من القرآن ما هي إلا ثلاثون آية خاصمت عن صاحبها حتى أدخلته الجنة، وهي سورة تبارك"
"A Surah from the Qur’an of only thirty verses continued to argue on behalf of its reciter until it entered him into Paradise – and that is Surah Tabarak."


Reference:
Al-Mu‘jam al-Saghir by al-Tabarani (1/176, Hadith 476)
Al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat (Hadith 3667)
Al-Mukhtarah by al-Diya al-Maqdisi (5/114–115, Hadith 1738–1739)


Note:
– One narrator, Abu Ayyub Sulayman ibn Dawud ibn Yahya, requires verification.

④ Hadith of Jabir (رضي الله عنه) – Prophet’s Habitual Recitation​

Text of the Hadith:
Narrated by Jabir (رضي الله عنه):


The Prophet ﷺ would not sleep until he recited:
"الم تنزيل" (Surah al-Sajdah) and
"تبارك الذي بيده الملك" (Surah al-Mulk)


Reference:
Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 2892)


Details of the Narration:
– Originally narrated by Layth ibn Abi Sulaym, a weak narrator.
– However, Mughira ibn Muslim (trustworthy) also narrated it from Abu al-Zubayr al-Makki
(References: Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Nasa’i: 10542, ‘Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah: 706, Al-Adab al-Mufrad by al-Bukhari: 1207)


Issue with Abu al-Zubayr:
– A known mudallis, and this narration is with ‘an‘anah, making it weak.
– When asked if he heard it directly from Jabir, he replied: “I was told this by Safwan or Ibn Safwan mursal.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2892)
– Hafiz Ibn Hajar: Considered the narration mursal or mu‘dal
(Nata'ij al-Afkar 3/267)
– Shaykh Salim bin ‘Eid al-Hilali also ruled it mursal (‘Ujalat al-Raghib al-Mumtani’ 2/769)

⑤ Statement of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه)​

Text:
‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه) said:


"يؤتى رجل من جوانب قبره، فجعلت سورة من القرآن تجادل عنه حتى منعته"
A man will be approached in his grave from all sides, but a Surah from the Qur’an will keep defending him until it protects him.


Marrah al-Tabi‘i said: I and Masruq pondered, and we found that this Surah is Surah al-Mulk.


Reference:
Dala’il al-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi (7/41) – Hasan chain
Also found in: Al-Mustadrak by al-Hakim (2/498)


Another Statement:
‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه) said:


"سورة تبارك هي المعانعة، تمنع بإذن الله من عذاب القبر"
"Surah Tabarak is the preventer; it prevents – by the permission of Allah – from the punishment of the grave."


Reference:
Ithbat ‘Adhab al-Qabr by al-Bayhaqi, Hadith 145 – Hasan chain

⑥ Statement of Khalid ibn Ma‘dan (رحمه الله) – A Tabi‘i​

Text:
Khalid ibn Ma‘dan (d. 103 AH) would recite Surah al-Sajdah and Surah al-Mulk before sleeping and said:


"These two Surahs will intercede for their reciter and protect him from the punishment of the grave."


Reference:
Musnad al-Darimi (2/455, Hadith 3413),
Adwa' al-Masabih (Hadith 2176b)


Authenticity:
– The narration is Hasan due to the reliability of ‘Abdullah ibn Salih, the scribe of al-Layth.

❖ Foundational Clarification:​

– Both Sahih li-Dhatihi and Hasan li-Dhatihi Hadiths are considered valid evidence.
– Reciting Surah Tabarak before sleeping is an authentic and rewarding practice.

❖ Conclusion:​

➊ Some narrations are indeed weak,
➋ However, the presence of other authentic (Sahih) and reliable (Hasan) Hadiths clearly establishes that:


Reciting Surah al-Mulk can be a means of salvation from the punishment of the grave, by the permission of Allah.


"هذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب"
This is what I have [to present], and Allah knows best what is correct.