Surah Al Ala

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Surah Al-Ala (Arabic text: الأعلى) is the 87th chapter of the Holy Quran. The title of this surah in English is “The Most High,” and it contains 19 verses. The name is derived from the word “A’la” mentioned in the first verse. (1)سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى.  ”Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Highest”. it emphasizes the glorification of God and His Lordship. These themes are connected to a fundamental principle of Islam: the Oneness of God. In particular, God’s Lordship relates to the Unity of Actions (توحید افعالی), which is one aspect of this principle.

Surah Al Ala Read full-text pages colour-coded with Tajweed rules

Main points discussed in Surah Al Alaa

Al-A’la outlines the Islamic perspective on existence,

the Oneness of Allah,

and Divine revelation,

while also addressing rewards and punishments.

It highlights that humans often conceal things from one another and even from themselves. The surah serves as a reminder to its readers that Allah is aware of both what is revealed and what is hidden.

Glorifying the Name of God in Surah A’la

(1)سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى

Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High (1)

This can have two possible meanings:

  1. Whenever you mention God’s Name, avoid mentioning things that He is above and pure from, such as other gods, partners, or mediators. Do not attribute to them qualities that are exclusive to His Lordship, like creation, provision, life, and death.
  2. Do not attribute to God characteristics that are unworthy of Him, such as weakness, ignorance, or oppression.

Musabbihaat

Surah Al-A’la was one of the Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) favorite surahs. The Quran contains several surahs known as Al-Musabbihaat, which start with the declaration of the perfection of Allah (‘azza wa jal). These surahs either begin with:

  • Sabbaha lillahi
  • Yusabbihu lillahi
  • Subhaana
  • Sabbihi f

Recitation of Surah Al Alaa in witr is Sunnah

For the three rakats of Witr, it is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to recite Surah Al-A’la (chapter 87) in the first rakat, Surah Al-Kafirun (chapter 109) in the second rakat, and Surah Al-Ikhlas (chapter 112) in the final rakat. It’s important to note that this practice is not mandatory but a Sunnah of the Prophet.

Benefits of Reciting Surah A’la

The Benefits of reciting Surah Ala are following

Spiritual Illumination: The surah opens by affirming Allah as “the Most High” and urging for His glorification.

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) has stated that whoever recites these verses will receive ten rewards for each letter of God’s revelations to Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all).

Ja‘far bin Muhammad al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) narrated that whoever recites this chapter in their obligatory or optional prayers will be told on the Day of Judgment: “Enter Paradise through whichever gate you desire.”