Sūrat al-Mulk: Its Objectives, Distinctive Features, and Virtues: A Thematic Hadith Study

Abstract

Sūrat al-Mulk, a Makkan chapter of the Qur’an, derives its title from its opening verse: “Blessed is He in Whose Hand is dominion, and He has power over all things” (Q 67:1). The surah foregrounds the absolute sovereignty of Allah, the universality of His power, and His exclusive authority over creation, governance, life, and death. It addresses a range of foundational theological and spiritual themes, including the affirmation of divine oneness (tawḥīd), the perfection of Allah’s power and knowledge, the purpose of life and death as a means of testing human conduct, contemplation of the flawless order of the heavens, the fate of those who reject the truth, the reality of resurrection, and reflection on divine blessings such as the earth, sustenance, the flight of birds, and water. This study examines Sūrat al-Mulk with particular attention to its names, principal objectives, distinctive features, and the virtues attributed to it in sound Prophetic traditions and early transmitted reports. It seeks to identify the forms of merit established for the surah on the basis of reliable evidence. Methodologically, the study combines inductive and analytical approaches. The inductive method is employed to collect and survey the hadiths and reports concerning the virtues of Sūrat al-Mulk, while the analytical method is used to assess their chains of transmission and textual content, clarify their implications, and determine the conclusions that may reasonably be drawn from them.