Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: (Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High)
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Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: (Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High)]
So we begin with the first surah [Al-A'la: 1]. The Basmala has been discussed previously, and it is a verse from the Book of Allah that stands independently; it is not part of al-Fatihah, nor al-Baqarah, nor al-Imran, nor any other surah in the Qur'an. However, it is an independent verse that descends at the beginning of every surah. For this reason, the correct view is that the first verse of al-Fatihah is [Al-Fatihah: 2], the second is: [Al-Fatihah: 3], the third is: [Al-Fatihah: 4], the fourth is: [Al-Fatihah: 5], the fifth is: [Al-Fatihah: 6], the sixth is: [Al-Fatihah: 7], and the seventh is: [Al-Fatihah: 7]. This is the correct view indicated by the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Allah the Exalted says: [Al-A'la: 1]. The address here is to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the address directed to the Messenger in the Noble Qur'an falls into three categories: The first category is that evidence establishes that it is specific to him, in which case it is exclusive to him.
And the second category: That evidence establishes that it is general, in which case it applies generally.
And the third category: That the evidence does not indicate either this or that, in which case it is specific to him in wording, but general in ruling for him and the Ummah.
Example of the first: The saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: [Al-Sharh: 1-2]. Also, the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nisa: 79]. Indeed, it is known that this is specific to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
And an example of the second: Directed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and it contains an indication of generality. The saying of Allah the Exalted: [At-Talaq: 1]. The address was first directed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: (O Prophet), and He did not say "O you who believe, when you divorce."Then he said: And He did not say: "O Prophet, when you divorce." This indicates that the address is directed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and to the Ummah.
And as for examples of the third category, they are very numerous. Allah directs the address to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the intended meaning is: the address is to him in wording, and general in ruling.Here Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:[Al-A'la 87:1] (Glorify) means: purify Allah from everything that is unworthy of His Majesty and His Greatness.So glorification means: Purification (Tanzih),If you say: Subhan Allah means: Allah is purified from all evil, from all defect, from all imperfection.For this reason, among the names of Allah the Exalted is: As-Salam, Al-Quddus; because He is purified from all defect.And we give you examples: Among the attributes of Allah the Exalted is Life. Is there any imperfection in His Life? No.
The life of the created being has imperfection in it: First: because it is preceded by non-existence, so the human being is not eternal.
And secondly: It is followed by annihilation [Ar-Rahman: 26].
And among His attributes, the Exalted, is: Hearing, and the hearing of Allah has no imperfection. He hears everything. Even the woman who came to complain to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), whose story Allah the Exalted mentioned in Surah Al-Mujadilah, was speaking to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while Aisha was in the chamber, and some of her speech was hidden from her.And Allah the Exalted says in His Book: [Al-Mujadilah: 1].
For this reason, Aisha said: [Praise be to Allah Who has encompassed all voices with His hearing. Indeed, the woman is complaining to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and some of her speech is hidden from me].
Therefore: The meaning of Subhan Allah is: I purify Allah from all defect and imperfection.
And his statement:[Al-A'la 87:1] Some of the exegetes said: His saying: (the name of your Lord) means: the one named your Lord; because glorification is not for the name, but for Allah Himself. However, the correct view is that its meaning is: Glorify your Lord by mentioning His name.Meaning: Do not glorify Him with the heart only, but glorify Him with the heart and the tongue, and that is by mentioning His name, the Exalted.And indicating this meaning is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Waqi'ah: 74] means: Glorify with a glorification accompanied by the name; because the glorification of Allah the Exalted may be accompanied by the heart (by belief), or by the tongue, or by both together.And perfection is to glorify with both together: With his heart, uttering it with his tongue.
And his statement: (Your Lord). Ar-Rabb: its meaning is the Creator, the Owner, and the Manager of all affairs. So Allah the Exalted is the Creator, He is the Owner, and He is the Manager of all affairs. Do the polytheists acknowledge this?
Yes.
They acknowledge this.Allah the Exalted said: [Az-Zumar: 38] [Az-Zukhruf: 87]. And Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, informed that if they are asked: [Yunus: 31], they acknowledge that Allah has the dominion, the management, and the creation. But they worship others along with Him out of ignorance. How do you acknowledge that Allah alone is the Creator, the Owner, and the Manager of all affairs, and yet you worship others along with Him?So: The meaning of Ar-Rabb, based on this, is the Creator, the Owner, and the Manager of all affairs. And every person who acknowledges this is obligated not to worship except Allah.As indicated by the numerous verses: [Al-Baqarah: 21]. He said: (Worship your Lord who created you), meaning: do not worship anyone else.
and His saying, the Exalted: From the elevation.And the elevation of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is of two types: Elevation of attribute, and elevation of essence.
As for the elevation of attribute: For it is the most perfect of the attributes for Allah, Mighty and Majestic.Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nahl: 60].
And as for the elevation of essence: So it is that Allah the Exalted is above His servants, established upon His Throne.And when a person says: O Allah! So where does one turn? To the sky - to the above - so Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, is above everything, established upon His Throne.
So when you recite it, feel in yourself that Allah is High in His attributes and High in His essence.For this reason, when a person prostrates, he says: Subhan Rabbi al-A'la. He remembers His lowness, which is the elevation of Allah over him. So the human being descends in the state of prostration, lowering the most noble and highest part of him, which is his face, and places it in the earth which is trampled by feet.So among the wisdom is that he says: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High,Meaning: I purify my Lord who is above everything; because I have descended to the lowest of everything. So glorify Allah, the Most High in His attributes and the Most High in His essence.And you feel when you say: Subhan Rabbi al-A'la. That your Lord, the Exalted, is above everything, and that He is the most perfect of everything in attributes.
So we begin with the first surah
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَThe Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِSovereign of the Day of Recompense.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِIt is You we worship and You we ask for help.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُGuide us to the straight path -
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَThe path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْnot of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا الضَّالِّينَAllah the Exalted says:
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَىAnd the second category: That evidence establishes that it is general, in which case it applies generally.
And the third category: That the evidence does not indicate either this or that, in which case it is specific to him in wording, but general in ruling for him and the Ummah.
Example of the first: The saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
(1) Did We not expand for you, [O Muhammad], your breast? (2) And We removed from you your burden
أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ * وَوَضَعْنَا عَنْكَ وِزْرَكَAnd We have sent you, [O Muhammad], to the people as a messenger
وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولاًAnd an example of the second: Directed to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and it contains an indication of generality. The saying of Allah the Exalted:
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّWhen you divorce
إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُAnd as for examples of the third category, they are very numerous. Allah directs the address to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the intended meaning is: the address is to him in wording, and general in ruling.Here Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَىThe life of the created being has imperfection in it: First: because it is preceded by non-existence, so the human being is not eternal.
And secondly: It is followed by annihilation
Everyone upon the earth will perish,
كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍAnd among His attributes, the Exalted, is: Hearing, and the hearing of Allah has no imperfection. He hears everything. Even the woman who came to complain to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), whose story Allah the Exalted mentioned in Surah Al-Mujadilah, was speaking to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while Aisha was in the chamber, and some of her speech was hidden from her.And Allah the Exalted says in His Book:
Certainly has Allah heard the speech of the one who argues with you, [O Muhammad], concerning her husband
قَدْ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَوْلَ الَّتِي تُجَادِلُكَ فِي زَوْجِهَاFor this reason, Aisha said: [Praise be to Allah Who has encompassed all voices with His hearing. Indeed, the woman is complaining to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and some of her speech is hidden from me].
Therefore: The meaning of Subhan Allah is: I purify Allah from all defect and imperfection.
And his statement:
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَىSo exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.
فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِAnd his statement: (Your Lord). Ar-Rabb: its meaning is the Creator, the Owner, and the Manager of all affairs. So Allah the Exalted is the Creator, He is the Owner, and He is the Manager of all affairs. Do the polytheists acknowledge this?
Yes.
They acknowledge this.Allah the Exalted said:
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and earth?" they would surely say, "Allah."
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُAnd if you asked them who created them, they would surely say, "Allah."
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُSay, "Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Or who controls hearing and sight and who brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living and who arranges [every] matter?" They will say, "Allah," so say, "Then will you not fear Him?"
قُلْ مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَمَّنْ يَمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ فَسَيَقُولُونَ اللَّهُO mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْand His saying, the Exalted:
The Most High
الْأَعْلَىAs for the elevation of attribute: For it is the most perfect of the attributes for Allah, Mighty and Majestic.Allah the Exalted said:
and for Allah is the highest attribute
وَلِلَّهِ الْمَثَلُ الْأَعْلَىAnd as for the elevation of essence: So it is that Allah the Exalted is above His servants, established upon His Throne.And when a person says: O Allah! So where does one turn? To the sky - to the above - so Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, is above everything, established upon His Throne.
So