Surah Mulk Before Sleep Hadith
The hadith regarding Surah Mulk recitation before sleep is reported in multiple authenticated collections. The most comprehensive narration comes from Jabir (RA) in Tirmidhi (2892), where the Prophet (peace be upon him) is described as never sleeping until he recited both Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Al-Mulk.
Last reviewed:
The hadith on Surah Mulk before sleep is one of the most well-documented Prophetic traditions, appearing in multiple hadith collections with varying degrees of authentication. This article presents every major narration, its chain of transmission (isnad), and scholarly commentary.
Primary Hadith Narrations
Narration 1 — Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA)
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) would not sleep until he recited: Alif Lam Meem Tanzeel (Surah As-Sajdah) and Tabarak Al-Ladhi Biyadihil-Mulk (Surah Al-Mulk)."
Source: Tirmidhi 2892
Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani)
Also in: Nasai, Ibn Majah
Companion: Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari
Narration 2 — Abu Hurayrah (RA)
"A surah from the Quran containing thirty verses interceded for a man until he was forgiven. It was: Tabarak Al-Ladhi Biyadihil-Mulk."
Source: Abu Dawud 1400
Grade: Hasan (Tirmidhi), Sahih (Ibn Hibban)
Also in: Tirmidhi 2891, Ibn Majah
Companion: Abu Hurayrah Ad-Dausi
Narration 3 — Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA)
"One of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) pitched a tent over a grave without realizing it. He heard the occupant of the grave reciting Surah Al-Mulk until he completed it. He went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and mentioned this, and the Prophet said: 'It is the defender, it is the deliverer — it delivers him from the punishment of the grave.'"
Source: Tirmidhi 2898
Grade: Hasan (Tirmidhi)
Also in: Nasai, Ibn Majah
Companion: Abdullah ibn Abbas
Scholarly Commentary
Imam Al-Tirmidhi's Notes
Imam Al-Tirmidhi classified the hadith of Jabir as Sahih in his Sunan, noting that the chain is continuous and the narrators are all trustworthy (thiqat). He commented that this practice was widely followed among the Tabi'in.
Ibn Kathir's Explanation
In his Tafsir, Ibn Kathir explains that the reason for this specific surah's protective power is its comprehensive treatment of tawhid, the Hereafter, and divine justice — themes that directly confront the tests of the grave.
Al-Albani's Authentication
Sheikh Nasiruddin Al-Albani, the foremost hadith scholar of the 20th century, authenticated these narrations in his series Silsilah Ahadith as-Sahihah, removing any doubt about their validity as a basis for religious practice.
Understanding the Chain of Transmission (Isnad)
Each of these hadith has been meticulously preserved through a chain of narrators going back to the Prophet's Companions. The science of hadith authentication (mustalah al-hadith) examines every narrator's:
- Justice ('adalah) — moral uprightness and religious practice
- Precision (dabt) — accuracy in memorization and transmission
- Continuity — whether each narrator actually met the previous one
- Absence of hidden defects ('illah) — no subtle inconsistencies in the chain
Summary of Authentications
Tirmidhi 2892 — Sahih (Al-Albani)
Tirmidhi 2891 — Hasan
Tirmidhi 2898 — Hasan
Abu Dawud 1400 — Sahih (Ibn Hibban)
Nasai — Sahih
Ibn Majah — Hasan
Further Reading
Sources: Quranic text verified against Uthmani script (Hafs an Asim). Hadith cross-referenced with Sunnah.com and Quran.com. See our editorial policy.