Al-A'laa

سُورَةُ الأَعۡلَىٰ

Surah 87 19 verses Meccan

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

About Surah Al-A'laa

Meccan · 19 verses

Main Themes

Glorification of Allah, divine creation and guidance, the scripture of Ibrahim and Musa, the Quran as a reminder

Significance

Al-Ala (The Most High) is one of the earliest Meccan revelations and opens with the command to glorify Allah — "Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High" — which became the basis of the phrase "Subhana Rabbiy al-A'la" recited in prostration (sujud) during prayer. The surah establishes the pattern of divine action: creating, then proportioning, then guiding — presenting guidance as the completion of creation rather than an addition to it.

Key Verse Explained

Ayah 9 ("So remind, if the reminder should benefit") establishes the principle that da'wah (calling to Islam) is an obligation regardless of result, but wisdom requires assessing whether a reminder will be received. Classical scholars use this verse to establish that the obligation of the caller is fidelity to the message, not control of outcomes — an important boundary for da'wah practitioners against despondency or coercion.

Related Practices

The Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Ala at Jumu'ah prayer and Eid prayer alongside Al-Ghashiyah and Al-A'la, a Sunnah preserved in Sahih Muslim. "Subhana Rabbiy al-A'la" (Glorified is my Lord, the Most High) — recited three times in sujud — is directly derived from this surah's first verse. Al-Ala is also commonly memorised early in Quran memorisation programs as part of Juz 'Amma.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى 1

87:1

Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,

الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ 2

87:2

Who created and proportioned

وَالَّذِي قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ 3

87:3

And who destined and [then] guided

وَالَّذِي أَخْرَجَ الْمَرْعَىٰ 4

87:4

And who brings out the pasture

فَجَعَلَهُ غُثَاءً أَحْوَىٰ 5

87:5

And [then] makes it black stubble.

سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلَا تَنْسَىٰ 6

87:6

We will make you recite, [O Muhammad], and you will not forget,

إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْجَهْرَ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ 7

87:7

Except what Allah should will. Indeed, He knows what is declared and what is hidden.

وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ 8

87:8

And We will ease you toward ease.

فَذَكِّرْ إِنْ نَفَعَتِ الذِّكْرَىٰ 9

87:9

So remind, if the reminder should benefit;

سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَنْ يَخْشَىٰ 10