Al-Ala Explained

Number:	87
Number-3:	087
Al-Aʻlā
Name-Ar:	الأعلى
Name-En:	The Most High
Prev Sura:	Quran 86
Next Sura:	Quran 88
Place Of Revelation:	Makkah
Othernames:	Glory to Your Lord in the Highest, The All-Highest
Juz:	30
Verses:	19
Words:	72
Letters:	296
Audio:	Chapter 87, Al-Ala (Mujawwad) - Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.mp3

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.

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. This is a Makkan surah. The first 7 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.

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] Sunan Abu Dawood 1122

In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 733English translation : Book 2, Hadith 1117^{[16] [17]}

• 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).^{[18] [19] [20]}
• 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'".^{[21] [22]}
• 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). ^[23]
• 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?"^{[24] [25]}
• 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.’”^[26]

External links

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

Notes and References

1. Sells, Michael, Approaching The Qur'an, p. 72-73,
2. Book: Wherry . Elwood Morris . Elwood Morris Wherry . A Complete Index to Sale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes . 1896 . Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co . London.
3. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
4. [Jami` at-Tirmidhi]
5. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
6. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
7. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
8. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
9. [Sunan Abu Dawud]
10. [Abu Dawood|Abu Dawud]
11. Grade : Sahih (Al-Albani) Reference : Sunan Abu Dawood 1125In-book reference : Book 2 Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)(393)Chapter: What Should Be Recited During The Friday Prayer Hadith 736English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1120
12. [Sunan ibn Maja]
13. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
14. [Sunan al-Tirmidhi]
15. [Sunan ibn Maja]
16. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
17. [Sunan ibn Maja]
18. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
19. [Sunan al-Tirmidhi]
20. Reference : Sahih Muslim 878 aIn-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 78USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1907 (deprecated numbering scheme)
21. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
22. [Sunan an-Nasa'i]
23. [Sunan an-Nasa'i ]
24. Sunan Al-Nasa'i 997In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 122English translation : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 998
25. [Sunan Ibn Majah]
26. [Sunan Ibn Majah]