Surah al-Mulk is Meccan (1).

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Ever-Merciful.

“Blessed is He in whose hand is all dominion, and He is fully capable of all things—He who created death and life to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, the All-Forgiving.”

Concerning His saying, “Blessed is He in whose hand is all dominion, and He is fully capable of all things—He who created death and life,” Ata narrated from Ibn Abbas: He means death in this world and life in the Hereafter.

Qatadah said: He meant man's death and life in this world. Allah made this world an abode of life and passing away, and made the Hereafter an abode of recompense and everlastingness (2).

It was said: Death was mentioned first because it is more closely associated with overpowering might. And it was said: It was mentioned first because it came earlier, for things were initially under the rule of death, such as the sperm-drop, dust, and the like; then life came upon them.

Ibn Abbas said: Death was created in the form of a white ram with black markings: it passes by nothing, nor does anything catch its scent, except that it dies. Life was created in the form of a piebald [mare] (3), the one ridden by Gabriel and the prophets: it passes by nothing, nor does anything catch its scent, except that it comes to life. It was from its trace that the Samiri took a handful and cast it upon the calf, whereupon it came to life.

“To test you,” during the period from [life until death] (4), “which of you is best in deeds.” It is narrated from Ibn Umar