Al-Mulk, "The Sovereignty" (or "Dominion"), is the 67th surah — thirty verses revealed in Mecca. It opens the last seventh of the Quran and is one of the most commonly recited surahs at night, known by its first word, Tabarak.14
What it is about
The surah begins by placing everything under God's control: "Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent." It then states its central idea — that God "created death and life to test which of you is best in deed."2 From there it invites the reader to look: at the seven heavens without flaw, at the birds holding themselves aloft, at the water we depend on — each an argument that a world so ordered has a Maker worth heeding, and that those who denied Him will wish they had listened.
Why it matters
The Prophet ﷺ said, "There is a surah in the Qur'an of thirty verses which interceded for a man until he was forgiven — it is 'Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion' (Al-Mulk)."3 Reports like this made nightly recitation of Al-Mulk a long-standing practice, tied to its theme of answering to God for the life He gave as a test. To read Al-Mulk in Arabic with translations and recitation, open it on Quran.com.