Al-Ala

Al-Aʻlā (Arabic: الأعلى, lit. 'The Most High, Glory To Your Lord In The Highest') is the eighty-seventh chapter (surah) of the Qur'an, with 19 ayat or verses.

Surah 87 of the Quran

الأعلى‎ Al-Aʻlā The Most High
Qira'ahⓘ English text
Classification	Meccan
Other names	Glory to Your Lord in the Highest, The All-Highest
Position	Juzʼ 30
No. of verses	19
No. of words	72
No. of letters	296
← 86: At-Tariq 88: Al-Ghashiyah →

Page from an Ottoman Qur'an with Al-Ala and the start of the next surah.

Al-A'la describes the Islamic view of existence, the Oneness of Allah, and Divine revelation, additionally mentioning rewards and punishments. Mankind often hides things from each other and from themselves as well. The sura reminds its readers that Allah knows the things that are declared and things that lie hidden. The final verse of this Sura affirms that a similar message was also revealed to Abraham and Moses in the scriptures.^[1] This sura is part of the series of Al-Musabbihat as it begins with the glorification of Allah. The first seven Āyāt (verses) were revealed during the first years of Makkan life.

One of the companions of Ali said that he prayed twenty consecutive nights behind him and he did not recite any Surah, except Surah A’la. Surat Al-A'lā is among the most recited suras in the Jummah and Witr prayers.

Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is one of the earlier "Meccan surahs", which means that it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, rather than later in Medina.

Summary

• 1-5 God, the Most High, praised for his works
• 6-9 God promises to help Muhammad to proclaim the Quran
• 10-11 The God-fearing only shall be admonished
• 12-15 The wicked shall be punished, but the righteous shall be blessed
• 16-17 Men choose the present life rather than the life to come
• 18-19 The books of Abraham and Moses attest the Quran ^[2]

Hadith

• Ibn ‘Abbas (d.687) narrated: The Prophet recited in Witr: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High (Al-Ala).^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}
• Ibn ‘Abbas reported; when the prophet recited: "Glorify the name of thy Lord, the Most High."(Al-Ala) He would say: "Glory be to Allah, the most High".^[10]

• Samra ibn Jundab narrated that: The Messenger of Allah used to recite in the Friday prayer: "Glorify the name of your most high Lord" (Al-Ala) and Has the story of the overwhelming event reached you? (Al-Ghashiyah). ^{[11][12][13][14]}

• It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Prophet used to recite in the ‘Eid prayers "Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High." (Al-Ala) and “Has there come to you the narration of the overwhelming?” (Al-Ghashiyah).^{[15][16][17][18]}

• It was narrated from al-Nu'man b. Bashir that: The Messenger of Allah used to recite on the two Eid prayers and on Jumu'ah: "Glorify the Name of Your Lord, the Most High" (Al-Ala) and "Has there come to you the narration of The Overwhelming?"(Al-Ghashiyah) Sometimes the two ('Eid and Jumu'ah) occurred on the same day, and he would recite them (these two Surahs).^[19][20][21]

• It was narrated that Imran ibn Husain said: "The Prophet prayed Zuhr and a man behind him recited: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High. When he had finished praying, he said: 'Who recited: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High?" (Al-Ala) A man said: 'I did.' He said: 'I realized that some of you were disputing with me over it'".^[22][23]

• Abu Bakr bin An-Nadr said: "We were in At-Taff with Anas, and he led them in praying Zuhr. When he had finished, he said: 'I prayed Zuhr with the Messenger of Allah and he recited two surahs for us in the two rak'ahs: "Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High' (Al-Ala) and 'Has there come to you the narration of the over-whelming?'" (Al-Ghashiyah). ^[24]

• It was narrated that Jabir said: "Muadh stood up and prayed Isha', and made it lengthy. The Prophet said: 'Do you want to cause hardship to the people, O Mu'adh; do you want to cause hardship to the people O Mu'adh? Why didn't you recite Glorify the Name of your Lord Most High (Al-Ala) or Ad-Dhuha or; When the heaven is cleft asunder?"^[25][26]

• Narrated Uqbah ibn Amir: “When the following was revealed: ‘So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Great’,[69:52] the Messenger of Allah said to us: ‘Say this in your Ruku’.’ And when the following was revealed: ‘Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High.’[87:1] the Messenger of Allah said to us: ‘Say this in your prostrations.’”^[27]

References

1. Sells, Michael, Approaching The Qur'an, p. 72–73, ISBN 1-883991-69-2
2. Wherry, Elwood Morris (1896). A Complete Index to Sale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. Sunan an-Nasa'i (d. 915) 1743 In-book reference  : Book 20, Hadith 146 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1744
4. Jami` at-Tirmidhi 462 In-book reference  : Book 3, Hadith 10 English translation  : Vol. 1, Book 3, Hadith 462
5. Sunan an-Nasa'i 1703 In-book reference  : Book 20, Hadith 106 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1704
6. Sunan an-Nasa'i 1733 In-book reference  : Book 20, Hadith 136 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1734
7. Sunan an-Nasa'i 1741 In-book reference  : Book 20, Hadith 144 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1742
8. Sunan an-Nasa'i 1750 In-book reference  : Book 20, Hadith 153 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1751
9. Sunan Abu Dawud 829 In-book reference  : Book 2, Hadith 439 English translation  : Book 2, Hadith 828
10. Abu Dawud said; In this tradition the other narrators have differed from the narrator Wakl. This has been narrated by Wakl, and Shu’bah from Abu Ishaq, from Sa’ld b. Jubair, from Ibn ‘Abbas as his own statement (and not from the Prophet). Sunan Abi Dawud 883 In-book reference: Book 2, Hadith 493 English translation  : Book 2, Hadith 882
11. Grade : Sahih (Al-Albani) Reference  : Sunan Abu Dawood 1125 In-book reference  : Book 2 Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat) (393) Chapter: What Should Be Recited During The Friday Prayer Hadith 736 English translation  : Book 3, Hadith 1120
12. Sunan ibn Maja English reference  : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1120 Arabic reference  : Book 5, Hadith 1174
13. Sunan an-Nasa'i Vol. 2, Book 14:The Book of Jumu'ah, Hadith 1423 (Friday Prayer)
14. Sunan al-Tirmidhi 519 In-book reference  : Book 4, Hadith 32 English translation  : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 519
15. Sunan ibn Maja reference  : Vol. 1, Book 5 Establishing the Prayer and the Sunnah Regarding Them English, Hadith 1283 Arabic reference  : Book 5, Hadith 1342
16. Sunan Abu Dawood 1122 In-book reference  : Book 2, Hadith 733 English translation  : Book 2, Hadith 1117
17. Sunan an-Nasa'i 1590 In-book reference  : Book 19, Hadith 35 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 19, Hadith 1591
18. Sunan ibn Maja English reference  : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1281 Arabic reference  : Book 5, Hadith 1340
19. Sunan an-Nasa'i 1568 In-book reference  : Book 19, Hadith 13 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 19, Hadith 1569
20. Sunan al-Tirmidhi 533 In-book reference  : Book 5, Hadith 4 English translation  : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 533
21. Reference  : Sahih Muslim 878 a In-book reference  : Book 7, Hadith 78 USC-MSA web (English) reference  : Book 4, Hadith 1907 (deprecated numbering scheme)
22. Sunan an-Nasa'i 917 In-book reference  : Book 11, Hadith 42 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 918
23. Sunan an-Nasa'i 1744 In-book reference  : Book 20, Hadith 147 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1745
24. Sunan an-Nasa'i 972 In-book reference  : Book 11, Hadith 97 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 973
25. Sunan Al-Nasa'i 997 In-book reference  : Book 11, Hadith 122 English translation  : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 998
26. Sunan Ibn Majah English reference  : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 836 Arabic reference  : Book 5, Hadith 885
27. Sunan Ibn Majah English reference  : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 887, Arabic reference  : Book 5, Hadith 937

External links

• Quran 87 Clear Quran translation
• The Holy Qur'an, translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali
• Three translations at Project Gutenberg