Al-Malik
The King, The Sovereign
Root م ل ك (m-l-k). Lane gives malakahu as ‘he possessed it, or owned it’, associating the root with possession and authority. Mulk refers to sovereignty and dominion, and it also means the exercise of authority to command and forbid over a people. In Qur'an 1:4, mālik refers to an owner or master. Malakūt, meaning dominion or kingdom, appears in Qur'an 6:75. Malīk, for sovereign, is found in Qur'an 54:55. 59:23 names Him ‘the Sovereign’.
The root
م ل كm-l-k
Possession and authority. Lane gives malakahu as 'he possessed it, or owned it', and mulk as the exercise of authority to command and forbid over a people.
- مُلْكmulksovereignty, dominion
- مَالِكmālikowner, master (1:4)
- مَلَكُوتmalakūtdominion, kingdom (6:75)
- مَلِيكmalīksovereign (54:55)
Pronunciation
الْمَلِكُ
al-MA-lik
In the Qur'an
هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.
59:23 · Sahih International