The Meaning of the Poet's Statement: (The second type is the explicit affirmation of Allah's elevation and the explanation of the types of elevation, namely the elevation of the Self and the elevation of dominion. This is the second, which is the explicit statement of His elevation*** and He has two explicit words for it by His ruling: the word "Al-Ali" (The Most High) and the word "Al-A'la" (The Supreme) came*** mentioned to make known the purpose of explaining
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The Shaykh : This second type is the explicit affirmation of elevation, and it has two forms. The first form is "Al-Ali" (The Most High), as in the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:255] Here, it is a descriptive attribute indicating that elevation is His permanent, established attribute, because the meaning of a descriptive attribute, along with the event, is its permanence and continuity.
As for the second, the second attribute is the superlative name "Al-A'la" (The Supreme), to signify that no one shares in His elevation, because absolute elevation might be shared by someone. For example, you might say so-and-so is high and so-and-so is high. But the elevation by which Allah is described is not equaled by anyone and not shared by anyone. For this reason, it came in the form of what? "Al-A'la" (The Supreme). The evidence for "Al-A'la" is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-A'la 87:1] [Al-A'la 87:1] So, the explicit affirmation of elevation includes, as Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said, absolute elevation. For this reason, he said:
"Indeed, His elevation is absolute over the*** generalization and absoluteness by proof" Absolute, general elevation.
"And He has elevation from all aspects*** in Self and dominion, along with the elevation of status"
(Exalted and Majestic is He). The elevation of the Self is the first; the second is the elevation of dominion; and the third is the elevation of status, meaning the elevation of rank. Thus, the author divided elevation into three categories: the elevation of the Self, meaning that He, Glorified is He, is Himself above everything. The second is the elevation of dominion; dominion means being the Prevailing One, that He is the Prevailing One over everyone. And from the elevation of dominion is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Muhammad 47:35] What is "the highest"? Is it elevation in place?
The student: Dominion.
The Shaykh : It is the elevation of dominion, because the Muslims are with the disbelievers on the earth, but what is intended in the verse is the elevation of dominion, because you are the prevailing ones over them. So, the elevation of the Self, and what did we say its meaning is? That He is Himself above everything. The elevation of dominion is that He is the Prevailing One over everything; that elevation comes from dominion, and you have known its example. The third is the elevation of status, meaning His status is high, His rank is elevated, (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, they said "the elevation of rank." And you may say that the elevation of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is of two types: the elevation of the Self and the elevation of the attribute. And the attribute is either an attribute of dominion or an attribute of rank and honor.
Then he said, (may Allah have mercy on him):
"But those who deny His elevation have denied Him the completion*** of elevation, so He became deficient"
And what did those who denied the completion of elevation say? They said that He is high in dominion and status, but not high in Self. Not high in Self. So, they diminished the meaning of elevation, or not?
The student: They diminished it.
The Shaykh : They diminished, they diminished the meaning of elevation. Yes.
And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
وهو العلي العظيمAs for the second, the second attribute is the superlative name "Al-A'la" (The Supreme), to signify that no one shares in His elevation, because absolute elevation might be shared by someone. For example, you might say so-and-so is high and so-and-so is high. But the elevation by which Allah is described is not equaled by anyone and not shared by anyone. For this reason, it came in the form of what? "Al-A'la" (The Supreme). The evidence for "Al-A'la" is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
سبح اسم ربك الأعلىExalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
سبح اسم ربك الأعلى"Indeed, His elevation is absolute over the*** generalization and absoluteness by proof" Absolute, general elevation.
"And He has elevation from all aspects*** in Self and dominion, along with the elevation of status"
(Exalted and Majestic is He). The elevation of the Self is the first; the second is the elevation of dominion; and the third is the elevation of status, meaning the elevation of rank. Thus, the author divided elevation into three categories: the elevation of the Self, meaning that He, Glorified is He, is Himself above everything. The second is the elevation of dominion; dominion means being the Prevailing One, that He is the Prevailing One over everyone. And from the elevation of dominion is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
So do not weaken and call for peace while you are superior
فلا تهنوا وتدعوا إلى السلم وأنتم الأعلونThe student: Dominion.
The Shaykh : It is the elevation of dominion, because the Muslims are with the disbelievers on the earth, but what is intended in the verse is the elevation of dominion, because
You are the highest
أنتم الأعلونThen he said, (may Allah have mercy on him):
"But those who deny His elevation have denied Him the completion*** of elevation, so He became deficient"
And what did those who denied the completion of elevation say? They said that He is high in dominion and status, but not high in Self. Not high in Self. So, they diminished the meaning of elevation, or not?
The student: They diminished it.
The Shaykh : They diminished, they diminished the meaning of elevation. Yes.