Asalamualaikum,

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah said, “The Qur’an contains a surah of thirty ayahs which will intercede for a man until he is forgiven. It is: ‘Blessed be He who has the Kingdom in His Hand!’” [abu Dawud, Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi]

What is given increasingly little thought as time goes on, yet is one of the most obvious realities that we will eventually face?  If there is something we are sure about it is that our time will eventually expire and death will overtake us.

Fortunately, although some may assume that our system will shut down and we’ll fade into darkness, it’s not the case.  Infact it will be more like waking up, however this time forever, to an eternal life which will be spent either in torment, pleasure or a mixture of the two.  But the first stage or trial is the lonely isolated grave.

So while alone, it would probably be nice to have someone there looking out for you.  Put yourself in a situation where you’re going to be alone for 24 hours in a confined place, with Zombie dogs, posessed demon cannibals or whatever you’d fear being alone with in a little room.  I think nearly everybody would be more than willing to give away everything they own to have a powerful gaurdian.  The grave unfortunately is worse than that.  You’re not stuck in a room, you’re stuck in a torture chamber that doesn’t have enough room to move, your ribs are crushed until they interlock and you’re tormented by the things that your wildest imagination cannot conjure up, I mean forget the ‘Saw’ movies or ‘The Texas chain saw massacre’, that’s nothing.  Secondly, it’s not for 24 hours, but until the Day of Judgment.  A truly terrifying idea, but more importantly… a reality. 

Lucky for us, Allah (swt) has blessed us with a protector.  And our protector is, Surah Mulk, the sixty seventh chapter of the Qur’an containing only 30 verses.  The Surah explains the infinite power of God and how anybody who rejects warnings of the Prophets will be companions with the Blazing Fire.  The surah in line with its character is also known as ‘The Defender’. 

1)  The Prophet said, ‘Surah al Mulk is the protector from the torment of the grave’ [Nasai]

2)  Anas reported Rasulullah as saying, “There is a Surah which will plead for its reciter till it causes him to enter paradise.”  [at-Tabrani]

3)  Jabir said it was the custom of the Prophet not to go to sleep until he had read Tabarakallahi Biyadihil Mulk and Alif Laam Meem Tanzeel.  [Ahmad, Tirmidhi]

That’s it, that’s all it takes to save ourselves from the torment of the grave.  Read Surah mulk every night.  Once you’ve read it and are in a habit, it takes no longer than 10 minutes.  If you still can’t be bothered…

About the grave………The Prophet (saw) said:  “If people could hear what the animals hear, they would go insane.”