One of my biggest fears is the punishment of the grave (azaab). I haven’t read/heard/seen much in relation to this, mainly because I am so scared to know more and I guess in a sense I feel cushioned by my lack of knowledge. The little I do know however has freaked me out to the extent that I feel almost unable to breathe at the thought of it. In sha Allah I try to read Surah Mulk after Maghrib namaaz with the hope that it will intercede for me in my grave.

in sha Allah may Allah SWT accept all our zikr and pardon us from the punishment of the grave. Ameen

The Virtues of Surah Mulk

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “When the deceased are placed in their grave; it comes in front of his legs and says, “There is no way for you here as he used to perform the Surah Al-Mulk.” Then it would stand before his head and say to his tongue, “There is no way for you because he used to recite Surah Al-Mulk.” Then he said, “It is protector from the punishment of Allah. It is in the Torah that whoever recites the Surah Al-Mulk has increased and become more fragrant.” (Al-Qurtabi 18/205.)

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “It is a protector; a rescuer; saving from the chastisement of the grave.” (At-Tirmidhi and Al-Hakim.)

Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “Surah Tabaruk protects from the punishment of the grave.” (Ibn Mardawaya.)

BISMILLAHIR-RAHMANIR-RAHEEM

1. Tabaraka allathee biyadihi almulku wahuwa AAala kulli shayin qadeerun

2. Allathee khalaqa almawta waalhayata liyabluwakum ayyukum ahsanu AAamalan wahuwa alAAazeezu alghafooru

3. Allathee khalaqa sabAAa samawatin tibaqan ma tara fee khalqi alrrahmani min tafawutin fairjiAAi albasara hal tara min futoorin

4. Thumma irjiAAi albasara karratayni yanqalib ilayka albasaru khasian wahuwa haseerun

5. Walaqad zayyanna alssamaa alddunya bimasabeeha wajaAAalnaha rujooman lilshshayateeni waaAAtadna lahum AAathaba alssaAAeeri

6. Walillatheena kafaroo birabbihim AAathabu jahannama wabisa almaseeru

7. Itha olqoo feeha samiAAoo laha shaheeqan wahiya tafooru

8. Takadu tamayyazu mina alghaythi kullama olqiya feeha fawjun saalahum khazanatuha alam yatikum natheerun

9. Qaloo bala qad jaana natheerun fakaththabna waqulna ma nazzala Allahu min shayin in antum illa fee dalalin kabeerin

10. Waqaloo law kunna nasmaAAu aw naAAqilu ma kunna fee ashabi alssaAAeeri

11. FaiAAtarafoo bithanbihim fasuhqan liashabi alssaAAeeri

12. Inna allatheena yakhshawna rabbahum bialghaybi lahum maghfiratun waajrun kabeerun

13. Waasirroo qawlakum awi ijharoo bihi innahu AAaleemun bithati alssudoori

14. Ala yaAAlamu man khalaqa wahuwa allateefu alkhabeeru

15. Huwa allathee jaAAala lakumu alarda thaloolan faimshoo fee manakibiha wakuloo min rizqihi wailayhi
alnnushooru

16. Aamintum man fee alssamai an yakhsifa bikumu alarda faitha hiya tamooru

17. Am amintum man fee alssamai an yursila AAalaykum hasiban fasataAAlamoona kayfa natheeri

18. Walaqad kaththaba allatheena min qablihim fakayfa kana nakeeri

19. Awa lam yaraw ila alttayri fawqahum saffatin wayaqbidna ma yumsikuhunna illa alrrahmanu innahu bikulli
shayin baseerun

20. Amman hatha allathee huwa jundun lakum yansurukum min dooni alrrahmani ini alkafiroona illa fee ghuroorin

21. Amman hatha allathee yarzuqukum in amsaka rizqahu bal lajjoo fee AAutuwwin wanufoorin

22. Afaman yamshee mukibban AAala wajhihi ahda amman yamshee sawiyyan AAala siratin mustaqeemin

23. Qul huwa allathee anshaakum wajaAAala lakumu alssamAAa waalabsara waalafidata qaleelan ma tashkuroona

24. Qul huwa allathee tharaakum fee alardi wailayhi tuhsharoona

25. Wayaqooloona mata hatha alwaAAdu in kuntum sadiqeena

26. Qul innama alAAilmu AAinda Allahi wainnama ana natheerun mubeenun

27. Falamma raawhu zulfatan seeat wujoohu allatheena kafaroo waqeela hatha allathee kuntum bihi taddaAAoona

28. Qul araaytum in ahlakaniya Allahu waman maAAiya aw rahimana faman yujeeru alkafireena min AAathabin aleemin

29. Qul huwa alrrahmanu amanna bihi waAAalayhi tawakkalna fasataAAlamoona man huwa fee dalalin mubeenin

30. Qul araaytum in asbaha maokum ghawran faman yateekum bimain maAAeenin

The Meaning of Surah Mulk

1. Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things.

2. Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving;

3. Who has created the seven heavens one above another, you can see no fault in the creations of the Most Beneficent. Then look again: “Can you see any rifts?”

4. Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you in a state of humiliation and worn out.

5. And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin (devils), and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.

6. And for those who disbelieve in their Lord (Allah) is the torment of Hell, and worst indeed is that destination.

7. When they are cast therein, they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath as it blazes forth.

8. It almost bursts up with fury. Every time a group is cast therein, its keeper will ask: “Did no warner come to you?”

9. They will say: “Yes indeed; a warner did come to us, but we belied him and said: ‘Allah never sent down anything (of revelation), you are only in great error.'”

10. And they will say: “Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!”

11. Then they will confess their sin. So, away with the dwellers of the blazing Fire.

12. Verily! Those who fear their Lord unseen (i.e. they do not see Him, nor His Punishment in the Hereafter, etc.), theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).

13. And whether you keep your talk secret or disclose it, verily, He is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men).

14. Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves) All-Aware (of everything).

15. He it is, Who has made the earth subservient to you (i.e. easy for you to walk, to live and to do agriculture on it, etc.), so walk in the path thereof and eat of His provision, and to Him will be the Resurrection.

16. Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not cause the earth to sink with you, then behold it shakes (as in an earthquake)?

17. Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allah), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall know how (terrible) has been My Warning?

18. And indeed those before them belied (the Messengers of Allah), then how terrible was My denial (punishment)?

19. Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the Most Beneficent (Allah). Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.

20. Who is he besides the Most Beneficent that can be an army to you to help you? The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion.

21. Who is he that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision? Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and (they) flee (from the truth).

22. Is he who walks without seeing on his face, more rightly guided, or he who (sees and) walks on a Straight Way (i.e. Islamic Monotheism).

23. Say it is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing (ears), seeing (eyes), and hearts. Little thanks you give.

24. Say: “It is He Who has created you from the earth, and to Him shall you be gathered (in the Hereafter).”

25. They say: “When will this promise (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) come to pass? if you are telling the truth.”

26. Say (O Muhammad ): “The knowledge (of its exact time) is with Allah only, and I am only a plain warner.”

27. But when they will see it (the torment on the Day of Resurrection) approaching, the faces of those who disbelieve will be different (black, sad, and in grieve), and it will be said (to them): “This is (the promise) which you were calling for!”

28. Say (O Muhammad ): “Tell me! If Allah destroys me, and those with me, or He bestows His Mercy on us, – who can save the disbelievers from a painful torment?”

29. Say: “He is the Most Beneficent (Allah), in Him we believe, and in Him we put our trust. So you will come to know who is it that is in manifest error.”

30. Say (O Muhammad ): “Tell me! If (all) your water were to be sunk away, who then can supply you with flowing (spring) water?”

in sha Allah may Allah SWT help us remember this daily.