Read Surah Al Mulk Every Night and Be Protected from the Punishment of the Grave

Published: 31 March 2026

The Prophet ﷺ said about a surah of thirty verses, “It intercedes for its companion until he is forgiven,” and he identified it as “Tabāraka alladhī biyadihi al‑mulk.” In other reports it is called “al‑Māni‘ah” (the Preventer) and is described as protecting from the punishment of the grave. Because of this, many scholars encouraged reciting Surah Al‑Mulk every night before sleeping.

How to Read Surah Al Mulk Every Night

Start by reading Surah Al Mulk slowly with its translation, verse by verse, asking yourself what Allah is telling you in each ayah. Then repeat the surah regularly until you begin to memorise it, even if it is just a few verses at a time. Once you are comfortable, make it part of a fixed nightly routine: Surah Al‑Mulk, then your night adhkār (like Āyat al‑Kursī and the last three surahs), then sleep. This way, these thirty verses become both knowledge in your mind and a lived habit on your tongue before you return to Allah.

What the Prophet ﷺ Told Us About Surah Al‑Mulk

Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
“There is a surah in the Qur’an of thirty verses which will intercede for its companion until he is forgiven: ‘Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion.’” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Jami‘ at‑Tirmidhi; graded hasan)

Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه:
“There is a chapter in the Qur’an, only thirty verses, which will argue on behalf of its companion until he is admitted into Paradise. It is ‘Blessed is He…’ (67:1).”

A companion heard someone reciting Surah Al‑Mulk in his grave:
He mentioned it to the Prophet ﷺ who said: “It is the defender, it is the deliverer it delivers from the punishment of the grave.” (Jami‘ at‑Tirmidhi 2890)

Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه (athar):
“Whoever recites Surah Al‑Mulk every night is protected by Allah from the punishment of the grave. At the time of the Prophet ﷺ we used to call it ‘al‑Māni‘ah’ (the Preventer).” (Reported by Al‑Nasa’i and others; scholars mention its chains support each other)

When a believer makes this surah part of their nightly routine, reciting it with reflection and acting upon its message, it becomes a means of safety in the grave by Allah’s mercy. If you struggle with many extra deeds, at least try to end your day with these thirty verses so that “Surah Al Mulk” can be your companion when you are alone in the earth.