King of Mankind. The surah names Allah three ways in three verses — Lord, King, God.
2Words — the sovereign
م-ل-كRoot — kingship, sovereignty
ثَلاث صفاتThree names in three verses
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Stage 2 of 5 · Break It
مَلِكِالنَّاسِ
Maliki n-nās
Word 1مَلِكِmalikiKing / Sovereign ofConstruct noun
Word 2النَّاسِan-nāsMankindGenitive — the realm
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Stage 3 of 5 · Discover It
🌱 The Root of This Verse
م
—
ل
—
ك
Kingship · Sovereignty · Ownership
Root م-ل-ك appears 258 times in the Quran
مَلَكَ
malaka — he owned / ruledVerb form
مَلِك
malik — kingThis verse
مَمْلَكَة
mamlaka — kingdomExtended noun
مَلَكُوت
malakūt — divine sovereigntyThe highest form — Allah's alone
الفرق بين رَبّ and مَلِك: رَبّ = nurturing Sustainer. مَلِك = sovereign King with absolute authority. Al-Sa'di: verse 1 shows Allah as your caring Lord; verse 2 shows Him as the sovereign King — you are both nurtured and governed by Him.
Source: تفسير السعدي · مفردات الراغب الأصفهاني
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Stage 4 of 5 · Connect It
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Three Names — One Verse Each
Al-Sa'di: the surah uses رَبّ (Lord), مَلِك (King), إِلَه (God) — three names, each adding a dimension. Lord = He cares for you. King = He governs you. God = He alone deserves your worship.All three together are your refuge against the whisper.
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مَلِك = Authority Over the Whisperer
Ibn Kathir: seeking refuge in مَلِكِ النَّاسِ means: the King of all mankind is King over the whisperer too. Shaytan is a subject under Allah's sovereignty — not a rival power.
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All Kings Answer to Him
Al-Sa'di: every human king — however powerful — is a subject of مَلِكِ النَّاسِ. Seeking refuge in the King of mankind means turning to the one authority above all earthly authority.
مَلِكِ النَّاسِ Every king is His subject. Seek refuge in the King above all kings.