Surah Mulk in English — Translation & Meaning

Surah Mulk in English on this page: full Surah Mulk in English translation for all 30 ayahs — Saheeh International (Tanzil) and M. Pickthall (Quran.com API) — with Surah Mulk meaning glosses and links to Arabic read-online.

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Surah Mulk in English and Surah Mulk in English translation live on this page: verse-by-verse English with credited translators, plus Surah Mulk meaning in English glosses for key terms. For the interactive full surah reader (audio, word-by-word), use the homepage; for Arabic-first layout see read online.

Want the meaning of each Arabic word? See Surah Mulk word by word.

Surah Mulk Tarjuma (Urdu Translation)

Tarjuma (ترجمہ) means translation — especially Urdu tarjuma of the Quran. Full Urdu meaning, faza’il, and reading guidance are on Surah Mulk Urdu. For a thematic Urdu article, see Surah Mulk tarjuma blog. Hindi readers: Surah Mulk in Hindi.

Surah Mulk Meaning in English, Verse by Verse

Below is the English translation for each ayah of Surah Al-Mulk (Saheeh International, unmodified from Tanzil.net). Read alongside Arabic and transliteration, or open read online for a cleaner mushaf view.

Key word meanings in Surah Al-Mulk

Short glosses for common search terms — not a full tafsir. Arabic is quoted from the Uthmani text; English glosses follow standard Quranic lexicon usage.

Tabarak / تبارك
“Blessed (is He)” — divine blessing and transcendence; opening of the surah.
Al-Mulk / الملك
“The dominion / sovereignty” — Allah’s ownership of all creation.
liyabluwakum / ليبلوكم
“That He may test you” (v.2) — trial in deeds and sincerity (see verse 2).
Ahsan / أحسن
“Best / most excellent” — quality of deeds in the test of life and death.

Lexicon: Quran.com word tool; tafsir: Ibn Kathir on v.1–2 via our tafsir page.

English Translation of All 30 Verses (Saheeh International)

English translation from Tanzil.net (Saheeh International), unmodified.

Ayah 1 Verse 1

Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent -

Ayah 2 Verse 2

[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving -

Ayah 3 Verse 3

[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks?

Ayah 4 Verse 4

Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued.

Ayah 5 Verse 5

And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.

Ayah 6 Verse 6

And for those who disbelieved in their Lord is the punishment of Hell, and wretched is the destination.

Ayah 7 Verse 7

When they are thrown into it, they hear from it a [dreadful] inhaling while it boils up.

Ayah 8 Verse 8

It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown into it, its keepers ask them, "Did there not come to you a warner?"

Ayah 9 Verse 9

They will say," Yes, a warner had come to us, but we denied and said, 'Allah has not sent down anything. You are not but in great error.'"

Ayah 10 Verse 10

And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze."

Ayah 11 Verse 11

And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze.

Ayah 12 Verse 12

Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward.

Ayah 13 Verse 13

And conceal your speech or publicize it; indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.

Ayah 14 Verse 14

Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?

Ayah 15 Verse 15

It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection.

Ayah 16 Verse 16

Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?

Ayah 17 Verse 17

Or do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not send against you a storm of stones? Then you would know how [severe] was My warning.

Ayah 18 Verse 18

And already had those before them denied, and how [terrible] was My reproach.

Ayah 19 Verse 19

Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing.

Ayah 20 Verse 20

Or who is it that could be an army for you to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion.

Ayah 21 Verse 21

Or who is it that could provide for you if He withheld His provision? But they have persisted in insolence and aversion.

Ayah 22 Verse 22

Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?

Ayah 23 Verse 23

Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful."

Ayah 24 Verse 24

Say, "It is He who has multiplied you throughout the earth, and to Him you will be gathered."

Ayah 25 Verse 25

And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"

Ayah 26 Verse 26

Say, "The knowledge is only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner."

Ayah 27 Verse 27

But when they see it approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be distressed, and it will be said, "This is that for which you used to call."

Ayah 28 Verse 28

Say, [O Muhammad], "Have you considered: whether Allah should cause my death and those with me or have mercy upon us, who can protect the disbelievers from a painful punishment?"

Ayah 29 Verse 29

Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied. And you will [come to] know who it is that is in clear error."

Ayah 30 Verse 30

Say, "Have you considered: if your water was to become sunken [into the earth], then who could bring you flowing water?"

M. Pickthall English Translation

English translation by M. Pickthall via Quran.com API (resource id 19). Source: Quran.com API.

  1. Ayah 1. Blessed is He in Whose hand is the Sovereignty, and, He is Able to do all things.
  2. Ayah 2. Who hath created life and death that He may try you which of you is best in conduct; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving,
  3. Ayah 3. Who hath created seven heavens in harmony. Thou (Muhammad) canst see no fault in the Beneficent One's creation; then look again: Canst thou see any rifts?
  4. Ayah 4. Then look again and yet again, thy sight will return unto thee weakened and made dim.
  5. Ayah 5. And verily We have beautified the world's heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for the devils, and for them We have prepared the doom of flame.
  6. Ayah 6. And for those who disbelieve in their Lord there is the doom of hell, a hapless journey's end!
  7. Ayah 7. When they are flung therein they hear its roaring as it boileth up,
  8. Ayah 8. As it would burst with rage. Whenever a (fresh) host is flung therein the wardens thereof ask them: Came there unto you no warner?
  9. Ayah 9. They say: Yea, verily, a warner came unto us; but we denied and said: Allah hath naught revealed; ye are in naught but a great error.
  10. Ayah 10. And they say: Had we been wont to listen or have sense, we had not been among the dwellers in the flames.
  11. Ayah 11. So they acknowledge their sins; but far removed (from mercy) are the dwellers in the flames.
  12. Ayah 12. Lo! those who fear their Lord in secret, theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward.
  13. Ayah 13. And keep your opinion secret or proclaim it, lo! He is Knower of all that is in the breasts (of men).
  14. Ayah 14. Should He not know what He created? And He is the Subtile, the Aware.
  15. Ayah 15. He it is Who hath made the earth subservient unto you, so Walk in the paths thereof and eat of His providence. And unto Him will be the resurrection (of the dead).
  16. Ayah 16. Have ye taken security from Him Who is in the heaven that He will not cause the earth to swallow you when lo! it is convulsed?
  17. Ayah 17. Or have ye taken security from Him Who is in the heaven that He will not let loose on you a hurricane? But ye shall know the manner of My warning.
  18. Ayah 18. And verily those before them denied, then (see) the manner of My wrath (with them)!
  19. Ayah 19. Have they not seen the birds above them spreading out their wings and closing them? Naught upholdeth them save the Beneficent. Lo! He is Seer of all things.
  20. Ayah 20. Or who is he that will be an army unto you to help you instead of the Beneficent? The disbelievers are in naught but illusion.
  21. Ayah 21. Or who is he that will provide for you if He should withhold His providence? Nay, but they are set in pride and frowardness.
  22. Ayah 22. Is he who goeth groping on his face more rightly guided, or he who walketh upright on a straight road?
  23. Ayah 23. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): He it is who gave you being, and hath assigned unto you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye!
  24. Ayah 24. Say: He it is Who multiplieth you in the earth, and unto Whom ye will be gathered.
  25. Ayah 25. And they say: When (will) this promise (be fulfilled), if ye are truthful?
  26. Ayah 26. Say: The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am but a plain warner;
  27. Ayah 27. But when they see it nigh, the faces of those who disbelieve will be awry, and it will be said (unto them): This is that for which ye used to call.
  28. Ayah 28. Say (O Muhammad): Have ye thought: Whether Allah causeth me (Muhammad) and those with me to perish or hath mercy on us, still, who will protect the disbelievers from a painful doom?
  29. Ayah 29. Say: He is the Beneficent. In Him we believe and in Him we put our trust. And ye will soon know who it is that is in error manifest.
  30. Ayah 30. Say: Have ye thought: If (all) your water were to disappear into the earth, who then could bring you gushing water?

What Does Surah Mulk Mean?

Al-Mulk means “The Dominion” or “The Sovereignty.” The surah opens with Tabarakalladhi biyadihil mulk — blessed is He in whose hand is all dominion. Its core message is that Allah created death and life as a test, perfected the heavens, warns those who deny the Hereafter, and promises mercy to those who fear Him unseen. Read the chapter hub on the Surah Mulk homepage and Juz Tabarak guide.

Translations in Other Languages

This page is Surah Mulk with English translation. Compare translators on the translations compared guide.

Understanding Surah Mulk in English

A faithful Surah Mulk translation helps you reflect on Allah's sovereignty, the test of life and death, and the reality of the Hereafter. We present English meaning alongside transliteration so you can connect sound with sense while reciting.

Translation Methodology

Our English rendering follows clear, contemporary phrasing aligned with widely accepted translations such as Sahih International. Cross-check any ayah on Quran.com. For deeper explanation, read our Surah Mulk tafsir page.

Translations in Other Languages

We also provide Urdu, Bangla, Hindi, French (Sourate Al-Mulk), Malay rumi, and Indonesian. For translator differences see translations compared.

Sources: Quranic text verified against Uthmani script (Hafs an Asim). Hadith cross-referenced with Sunnah.com and Quran.com. See our editorial policy.

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Which English translation is used? +
Saheeh International English, unmodified from Tanzil.net (see Sources on each page).
Should I read translation every night? +
Scholars encourage understanding meaning; reading translation after Arabic recitation deepens reflection.
Where are all 30 verse translations? +
All 30 English meanings are on this page, with Arabic and transliteration. Verse Explorer adds audio and tafsir per ayah.
Is this Surah Mulk with English translation? +
Yes — this is the Surah Mulk English translation and meaning of all 30 verses. For a comparison of translators, see the translations-compared page.
What does Surah Mulk mean? +
Mulk means dominion or sovereignty. The chapter teaches that Allah owns the kingdom, created death and life as a test, and that creation is a sign.