Surah Al Mulk Transliteration in English: Arabic, Meaning and Reading Guide

Can’t read Arabic script yet? I faced the same issue when I started, so I made this easy guide for you. Below is the full Surah Al Mulk (chapter 67, 30 verses) with Arabic, Roman transliteration, and the meaning of every verse, so you can read along and recite.

Bismillah

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Meaning: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Full Surah Al Mulk: Arabic, Transliteration and Meaning

How to read the spelling: double letters (aa, ee, oo) are long sounds, and an apostrophe (‘) marks the Arabic ‘ain or a hamza pause. Read each verse while listening to the recitation, since transliteration only approximates Arabic sounds.

1. تَبَٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِي بِيَدِهِ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ Tabaarakal-lazee biyadihil-mulku wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shai’in qadeer. Meaning: Blessed is Allah, in whose hand is all dominion, and who has power over everything.

2. ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ Allazee khalaqal-mawta wal-hayaata liyabluwakum ayyukum ahsanu ‘amalaa; wa huwal-‘azeezul-ghafoor. Meaning: He created death and life to test which of you is best in deed, and He is the Almighty, the Forgiving.

3. ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَٰوَٰتٍ طِبَاقًاۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ مِن تَفَٰوُتٍۖ فَٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ Allazee khalaqa sab’a samaawaatin tibaaqaa; maa taraa fee khalqir-rahmaani min tafaawut; farji’il-basara hal taraa min futoor. Meaning: He created seven heavens in layers. You will see no flaw in the creation of the Most Merciful. Look again: do you see any cracks?

4. ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ Summar-ji’il-basara karrataini yanqalib ilaikal-basaru khaasi’anw wa huwa haseer. Meaning: Look again and again, and your sight will come back to you tired and defeated.

5. وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَٰهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَٰطِينِۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ Wa laqad zaiyannas-samaaa’ad-dunyaa bimasaabeeha wa ja’alnaahaa rujoomal-lish-shayaateeni wa a’tadnaa lahum ‘azaabas-sa’eer. Meaning: We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, made them a means of striking the devils, and prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.

6. وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ Wa lillazeena kafaroo bi-rabbihim ‘azaabu jahannama wa bi’sal-maseer. Meaning: Those who disbelieve in their Lord will face the punishment of Hell, and what a terrible destination it is.

7. إِذَآ أُلْقُوا۟ فِيهَا سَمِعُوا۟ لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِيَ تَفُورُ Izaaa ulqoo feehaa sami’oo lahaa shaheeqanw wa hiya tafoor. Meaning: When they are thrown into it, they hear a dreadful roaring from it as it boils.

8. تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ ٱلْغَيْظِۖ كُلَّمَآ أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَآ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ Takaadu tamayyazu minal-ghaizi kullamaaa ulqiya feehaa fawjun sa’alahum khazanatuhaaa alam yaatikum nazeer. Meaning: It almost bursts with rage. Each time a group is thrown in, its keepers ask them, “Did no warner come to you?”

9. قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَآءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَٰلٍ كَبِيرٍ Qaaloo balaa qad jaaa’anaa nazeerun fakazzabnaa wa qulnaa maa nazzalal-laahu min shai’in in antum illaa fee dalaalin kabeer. Meaning: They will say, “Yes, a warner came to us, but we denied him and said, ‘Allah has sent down nothing; you are in great error.'”

10. وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِيٓ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ Wa qaaloo law kunnaa nasma’u aw na’qilu maa kunnaa feee ashaabis-sa’eer. Meaning: And they will say, “If only we had listened or used our reason, we would not be among the people of the Blaze.”

Reflection: The people of the Blaze blame themselves for not listening or reasoning. The surah ties guidance to using the hearing and the mind Allah gave us, before it is too late.

11. فَٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِّأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ Fa’tarafoo bizambihim fa-suhqal li-ashaabis-sa’eer. Meaning: So they admit their sin, and away with the people of the Blaze.

12. إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ Innal-lazeena yakhshawna rabbahum bilghaibi lahum maghfiratunw wa ajrun kabeer. Meaning: Those who fear their Lord without seeing Him will have forgiveness and a great reward.

13. وَأَسِرُّوا۟ قَوْلَكُمْ أَوِ ٱجْهَرُوا۟ بِهِۦٓۖ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ Wa asirroo qawlakum awijharoo bihee innahoo ‘aleemum bizaatis-sudoor. Meaning: Whether you hide your words or speak them aloud, He knows what is in the hearts.

14. أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ Alaa ya’lamu man khalaq; wa huwal-lateeful-khabeer. Meaning: Would the One who created not know? He is the Subtle, the All-Aware.

15. هُوَ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ Huwal-lazee ja’ala lakumul-arda zaloolan famshoo fee manaakibihaa wa kuloo mir-rizqihee wa ilaihin-nushoor. Meaning: He made the earth easy for you, so walk its paths and eat from His provision. To Him is the return.

16. ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا هِيَ تَمُورُ ‘A-amintum man fis-samaaa’i ai yakhsifa bikumul-arda fa-izaa hiya tamoor. Meaning: Do you feel safe that He who is above would not make the earth swallow you while it shakes?

17. أَمْ أَمِنتُم مَّن فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًاۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ كَيْفَ نَذِيرِ Am amintum man fis-samaaa’i ai yursila ‘alaikum haasiban fasata’lamoona kaifa nazeer. Meaning: Or do you feel safe that He would not send a storm of stones against you? Then you would know how serious My warning was.

18. وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ Wa laqad kazzabal-lazeena min qablihim fakaifa kaana nakeer. Meaning: Those before them also denied, and see how severe My rejection of them was.

19. أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَٰٓفَّٰتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَيْءِۭ بَصِيرٌ Awalam yaraw ilat-tairi fawqahum saaaffaatinw wa yaqbidna; maa yumsikuhunna illar-rahmaan; innahoo bikulli shai’im baseer. Meaning: Do they not see the birds above them, spreading and folding their wings? Only the Most Merciful holds them up. He sees everything.

20. أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي هُوَ جُندٌ لَّكُمْ يَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِۚ إِنِ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِي غُرُورٍ Amman haazal-lazee huwa jundul-lakum yansurukum min doonir-rahmaan; inil-kaafiroona illaa fee ghuroor. Meaning: Who is there to be an army for you and help you, other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.

Reflection: Verses 15 to 21 show how dependent we are: the earth we walk on, the birds Allah holds in the air, the provision we receive. Each of them points back to the Most Merciful.

21. أَمَّنْ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي يَرْزُقُكُمْ إِنْ أَمْسَكَ رِزْقَهُۥۚ بَل لَّجُّوا۟ فِي عُتُوٍّ وَنُفُورٍ Amman haazal-lazee yarzuqukum in amsaka rizqah; bal lajjoo fee ‘utuwwinw wa nufoor. Meaning: Who could provide for you if He withheld His provision? Yet they persist in arrogance and aversion.

22. أَفَمَن يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦٓ أَهْدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ Afamai-yamshee mukibban ‘alaa wajhihee ahdaaa amman-yamshee sawiyyan ‘alaa siraatim-mustaqeem. Meaning: Is the one who walks bent over on his face better guided, or the one who walks upright on a straight path?

23. قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ Qul huwal-lazee anshaakum wa ja’ala lakumus-sam’a wal-absaara wal-af’idata qaleelam-maa tashkuroon. Meaning: Say: He is the One who created you and gave you hearing, sight, and hearts. Little do you give thanks.

24. قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِي ذَرَأَكُمْ فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ Qul huwal-lazee zara’akum fil-ardi wa ilaihi tuhsharoon. Meaning: Say: He is the One who spread you across the earth, and to Him you will be gathered.

25. وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ Wa yaqooloona mataa haazal-wa’du in kuntum saadiqeen. Meaning: They ask, “When will this promise come true, if you are truthful?”

26. قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْعِلْمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ Qul innamal-‘ilmu ‘indallaahi wa innamaaa ana nazeerum-mubeen. Meaning: Say: The knowledge is only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner.

27. فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ زُلْفَةً سِيٓـَٔتْ وُجُوهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَقِيلَ هَٰذَا ٱلَّذِي كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَدَّعُونَ Falammaa ra-awhu zulfatan seee’at wujoohul-lazeena kafaroo wa qeela haazal-lazee kuntum bihee tadda’oon. Meaning: When they see it drawing near, the faces of the disbelievers will be distressed, and it will be said, “This is what you used to call for.”

28. قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَهْلَكَنِيَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَن مَّعِيَ أَوْ رَحِمَنَا فَمَن يُجِيرُ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ Qul ara’aytum in ahlakaniyal-laahu wa mam-ma’iya aw rahimanaa famai-yujeerul-kaafireena min ‘azaabin aleem. Meaning: Say: Consider this. Whether Allah destroys me and those with me or shows us mercy, who will protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?

29. قُلْ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَاۖ فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ Qul huwar-rahmaanu aamannaa bihee wa ‘alaihi tawakkalnaa fasata’lamoona man huwa fee dalaalim-mubeen. Meaning: Say: He is the Most Merciful. We believe in Him and rely on Him, and you will soon know who is in clear error.

30. قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَآؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَآءٍ مَّعِينِۭ Qul ara’aytum in asbaha maaa’ukum ghawran famai-ya’teekum bimaaa’im-ma’een. Meaning: Say: Consider this. If your water sank deep into the earth, who could bring you flowing water?

Reflection: The surah begins with all dominion in Allah’s hand and ends with a question about something as ordinary as water. Nothing we rely on is guaranteed apart from Him.

Read next: Surah Ya-Sin in English, Surah Ar-Rahman in English, and Surah Al-Kahf in English.

About Surah Al Mulk

Surah Al Mulk is the 67th chapter of the Holy Quran. It was revealed in Makkah and is found in Juz 29. The name Al Mulk means “The Sovereignty,” and the surah is also known as Surah Tabarak after its opening word.

It speaks about Allah’s power, the creation of life and death as a test, the signs in the heavens and the earth, and our accountability.

Why Surah Al Mulk Is Read Before Sleep

Two reports explain why many Muslims make Surah Al Mulk a nightly habit:

• Intercession: the Prophet ﷺ said there is a surah of thirty verses that intercedes for its reciter until he is forgiven, and it is Tabarak alladhi biyadihil-mulk. This is reported in Sunan Abu Dawud (1400) and Sunan at-Tirmidhi (2891), and graded hasan.
• The Sunnah of reading it before sleep: Jabir (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ would not sleep until he had recited Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Al Mulk, reported by At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i and graded sahih by Al-Albani.

Some narrations also call the surah al-Mani’ah, “the one that prevents” the punishment of the grave. Scholars have discussed the chains of those narrations, so rely on the two reports above when you quote its virtue.

Main Themes of Surah Al Mulk

• Allah’s complete authority: the opening verses stress His dominion over everything.
• Life, death, and accountability: life and death are a test, and every person answers for their deeds.
• Signs in creation: the heavens, the earth, and the birds in the sky point to the balance of creation.
• The Hereafter: the surah warns about rejecting guidance and reminds us that deeds matter beyond this life.

How to Memorise Surah Al Mulk Using Transliteration

1. Read one verse in transliteration while looking at the Arabic.
2. Listen to the same verse and repeat it along with the reciter.
3. Check the meaning so you know what you are saying.
4. Revise the verses you already know before adding new ones.

Start with a few verses a day. Mistakes are normal, and a teacher or a good reciter will help you correct your pronunciation.

Conclusion

If Arabic script is still difficult, transliteration lets you start reciting Surah Al Mulk today. Keep the Arabic and the meaning beside it, listen to the recitation, and your reading will improve over time.

Frequently Asked Questions