Surh al Mulk: The Illusion of Ownership Verse 1

[My Pride Islam]

Ayah: 1

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

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تَبَارَكَ

The root of تَبَارَكَ is ب ر ك (Bā, Rā, Kāf) —one of the most profound and layered roots in the Arabic language.

In classical Arabic, the primary meaning of بَرَكَ is: to settle firmly in place, to remain grounded, to stay without slipping away.

Hence the expression: بَرَكَ البَعِيرُ — the camel sat down and firmly settled.

From this emerges a remarkable insight:

That which contains barakah does not slip away, does not decay, and does not become meaningless.

Barakah does not merely mean “having more” or “an increase in quantity.”

Rather, barakah means:

• A small amount becoming sufficient
• Something remaining firmly in its place
• Continuous benefit flowing from it
• Impact that endures over time

That is why:

• A person may have abundant wealth yet no peace → no barakah.
• A short amount of time may still be enough to complete great work → barakah.
• Little knowledge may completely transform one’s actions → barakah.

Now reflect on the verb form: تَبَارَكَ

This verb comes from Bāb al-Tafā‘ul, which carries the meaning of self-contained, intrinsic greatness and abundance.

Meaning: Allah does not receive barakah from anyone.

Allah does not acquire blessing from elsewhere.

Barakah emanates from His very Being.

That is why تَبَارَكَ is used only for Allah.

The Qur’an never uses this word for a human, a prophet, or any created thing.

The Qur’an does not say: بَارَكَ اللَّهُ (Allah granted blessing)

Instead, it says:

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي…

Meaning: His very existence is blessing.

Where Allah is remembered, where Allah is obeyed, where a connection to Allah exists—barakah arrives on its own.

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💡 Pause and ask yourself:

Where am I searching for barakah?

In things? In people? In plans?

The Qur’an is telling us:

Barakah is not in things—it is in connection.

When life is connected to Allah:

little time becomes enough,

limited strength achieves great outcomes,

and even a small act of worship transforms the heart.

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الَّذِي

الَّذِي is a relative pronoun in Arabic.

Its basic translation: who, the One who, the One whose…

In Arabic rhetoric, when the phrase تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي is used, it implies:

“That One—whose identity is now about to be revealed. Listen carefully.”

First, grandeur is established: تَبَارَكَ

Then the question arises: Who?

And the answer comes: الَّذِي…

This word prepares the heart for what is about to follow.

Why الَّذِي and not the name “Allah” directly?

Allah does not say:

تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ

Instead, He says:

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ

Why?

Because the Qur’an wants us to recognize Allah through His attributes, not merely His name.

Meaning:

The One whose barakah is infinite—He alone is the One in whose hand lies all dominion.

This style plants certainty in the heart, not just information in the mind.

After الَّذِي, something immense always follows.

It is never used for something trivial.

Here, what follows is:

بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ

Meaning:

• If it is authority → it is Him
• If it is judgment → it is Him
• If it is outcome → it is Him

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💡 Pause and reflect:

What do I treat as the real authority in my life?

Which person, system, or circumstance have I given a status that belongs only to الَّذِي?

If truly He alone is in control—then whom do I needlessly fear?

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بِيَدِهِ

بِ — conveys closeness, directness, intimate connection

يَد (hand) in Arabic does not merely mean a physical hand. It also signifies:

• Authority
• Power
• Control
• The ability to decide and act freely

بِيَدِهِ means: in His hand—

in His absolute grasp, under His direct control, without intermediary, without partner, without delegation.

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📌 Important note:

Affirming “hand” for Allah is not anthropomorphism, not physicality, and not resemblance to creation.

It is an attribute affirmed with faith, while its how is left to Allah.

Bilā kayf, bilā tamthīl.

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💡 Pause and write down:

Which part of my life do I believe is “in my hands”?

Which worry am I afraid to release?

If authority truly lies in His hand—what burden do I need to put down today?

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الْمُلْكُ

The root of الْمُلْكُ is م ل ك (m–l–k), meaning:

to possess such authority that one can withhold, alter, or use something however one wills.

From this root come:

• مَالِك — owner
• مُلْك — dominion
• مَلِك — king
• مَمْلُوك — one who is owned

Thus, mulk is not merely land or government—it is ultimate authority.

In the Qur’anic sense, الْمُلْكُ includes:

• Life and death
• Restriction and expansion of provision
• Honor and humiliation
• Strength and weakness
• Opportunities and obstacles
• Decisions of hearts
• Outcomes and the Hereafter

What we casually call “circumstances,” the Qur’an calls mulk.

Notice: the word is الْمُلْكُ, not مُلْكٌ.

This alif-lām is al-istighrāq—totality.

Meaning: all dominion, without exception.

No emotional matter, no family issue, no financial worry, no time constraint lies outside this domain.

Now ask yourself—and write it down:

Where in my life have I assumed ownership?

In which matter do I claim Allah is the Owner, yet my heart refuses to release control?

If الْمُلْكُ truly belongs to Him—what control am I clinging to excessively?

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وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

وَ — “and”

Here, it does not merely connect—it confirms and seals everything before it.

هُوَ — He alone

The same One mentioned before. The One with no partner. The One to whom all returns.

عَلَىٰ — upon, over

In Arabic, عَلَىٰ conveys dominance, superiority, and complete mastery.

كُلِّ — every single, without exception

شَيْءٍ — anything that can be called “a thing”:

a thought, a fear, a prayer, a destiny.

قَدِيرٌ — perfectly, eternally capable

Not merely qādir (able to do),

but qadīr—whose power is complete, constant, and never diminished.

Allah’s power does not tire, pause, or weaken.

We often say: “Allah can do it if He wills.”

The Qur’an takes us deeper:

For Allah, incapacity is not even a question—He is already fully capable of everything.

Illness or healing.

Closed door or open path.

Broken heart or renewed hope.

All lie within His power.

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 💡 Ask yourself:

What have I labeled “impossible”?

Which prayer did I abandon thinking, “What’s the point now?”

If He is truly عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ—which prayer should I revive today?

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The Ayah settles in the heart like this:

تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Blessed beyond measure is the One in whose hand lies all dominion—and He is fully capable over everything.

This ayah teaches us one thing above all:

Release fear. Release control. Hold firmly to certainty.