Surah Al-Mulk Read · Listen · Understand

When to recite

When to recite Surah Al-Mulk

What the authentic narrations say about the time for this surah — and, just as important, what they do not say.

Recite it now

In short: recite it every night. The Prophet ﷺ would not sleep until he had recited Surah as-Sajdah and Surah al-Mulk, so the best time is before you sleep. The narrations do not fix an exact hour.

1. Before sleeping — the Prophet’s ﷺ own practice

كَانَ لاَ يَنَامُ حَتَّى يَقْرَأَ الم تَنْزِيلُ وَتَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ

Jābir reported that the Prophet ﷺ would not sleep until he had recited “Alif Lām Mīm, Tanzīl…” (Surah as-Sajdah, 32) and “Tabārak alladhī biyadihil-mulk” (Surah al-Mulk, 67).

Reference: Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī 2892, Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī 3404, al-Adab al-Mufrad 1209; Sunan ad-Dārimī 3316 (per sunnah.com). Ṣaḥīḥ (through supporting chains) — al-Albānī (as-Silsilah aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah 585). Full grading and chain notes.

So the surest way to follow the Sunnah is to make Surah al-Mulk — with Surah as-Sajdah (chapter 32) — part of going to bed. As-Sajdah is in juz 21; it has 30 verses too.

2. Every night — the teaching of Ibn Masʿūd

Ibn Masʿūd said: “Whoever recites Tabārak alladhī biyadihil-mulk every night, Allah will protect him by it from the punishment of the grave. In the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ we used to call it al-Māniʿah (the protector). It is a surah in the Book of Allah: whoever recites it every night has done much, and done well.”

Reference: an-Nasāʾī, as-Sunan al-Kubrā (and ʿAmal al-Yawm wal-Laylah). Ḥasan — al-Albānī (Ṣaḥīḥ at-Targhīb wat-Tarhīb). These are a Companion’s words.

The promise of protection from the punishment of the grave is tied here to regularity — “every night” — rather than to a single reading.

What the narrations do not say

  • No exact hour. They say “before sleeping” and “every night”. Any time you recite it at night, and especially before sleep, falls within them.
  • No number of repetitions. They describe reciting it each night; they do not ask for it to be repeated.
  • No particular prayer. None of the narrations collected on this site ties the surah to a specific prayer. It may of course be recited in any prayer, like any part of the Quran.

Practical points

  • Reading counts. Reciting from a mushaf or a screen is recitation; you do not have to know it by heart. If you want to, follow the 30-day plan.
  • It takes a few minutes. It is 30 short-to-medium verses. Use the reader with a reciter at first, and slow the speed if you are learning.
  • Understand it. Scholars explain the promise belongs to the one who believes in the surah and lives by it. Read its meaning.
Tonight’s recitation Open the surah, press play, and read along. Your reciter, speed and position are remembered on this device. Open Surah Al-Mulk