The Noble Quran, English Translation and Tafsir, Surah al-A’la Ayah 1-8 Glorifying Allah & His Ability

 

87:1 Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High, 

87:2 Who created in due proportion, 

87:3 Who ordained and guided, 

87:4 and Who brought forth the pasture, 

87:5 then made it black stubble. 

87:6 We shall make you recite and you will not forget, 

87:7 save what Allah wills. Indeed, He knows the declared and what is hidden.

87:8 And We shall ease you to the way of ease. 

Tafsir 

87:1 Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High, 

The address is directed to all those who are eligible for it.     

O noble Messenger Muhammad, glorify the name of your Lord, Allah, ascribe to Him all attributes of perfection, and confirm that He is free from any imperfection. Affirm that Allah is One and has no partners nor equal. 

87:2 Who created in due proportion, 

Allah, Exalted be He, created all creatures in the best form, and in due proportion. He gave them distinctive and regular shapes, which indicates His greatness and wisdom. 

87:3 Who ordained and guided, 

Allah created all things in this universe and put them in their best position, determined their amounts and sizes according to specific manners that His wisdom necessitates, and agrees with sound reason.

Allah, the Able, ordained and decided every creature’s fate, destiny, and share of sustenance in this life. Then, He guided every creature to what it was created for and gave it means that can help it carry out the task for which it was created. 

When reflecting on the creation of plants and animals, one will see things that amaze the minds, and whose wonders need countless books to record them. 

87:4 and Who brought forth the pasture, 

87:5 then made it black stubble. 

The ayah mentions another aspect of Allah’s blessing and ability. Allah causes grass and plants to grow. First, the grass in the pasture is green, then Allah’s ability makes it black stubble. Reflecting on this change should make the believers increase in their faith and make the disbelievers consider their condition and follow the path of guidance. 

87:6 We shall make you recite and you will not forget, 

87:7 save what Allah wills. Indeed, He knows the declared and what is hidden.

The ayah mentions an aspect of Allah’s blessings on Messenger Muhammad. 

O noble Messenger Muhammad, We shall make you recite the Quran that the angel Gabriel will bring to you. We shall make you memorize it that you will not forget it except what Allah wills that you should forget. 

Indeed, Allah knows best the declared and the hidden things. Allah, out of His bounty, has not made His Messenger Muhammad forget anything of the Quran.

Ayah 6 and 7 denote a miracle. Messenger Muhammad was illiterate, but Allah made him memorize very long surahs of the Quran and he did not forget them without any repetition or studying. Besides, surah al-A’la was revealed in Mecca and it mentions something that will happen in the future, namely, Messenger Muhammad would not forget anything of the Quran, which is a miracle. 

87:8 And We shall ease you to the way of ease. 

87:9 So remind if the reminding profits.  

O noble Messenger, We shall make you memorize the Quran that you will not forget it,  We shall ease you to the way of ease in all your affairs, and We shall guide you to what brings you happiness in this world and the Hereafter.

Indeed, Allah has fulfilled His promise to Messenger Muhammad. He revealed to him an easy law and gave him a noble character. When Messenger Muhammad was supposed to choose one thing out of two things, he would always choose the easiest one. He also commanded his followers to follow the easiest way as long as it does not entail any violation of Allah’s commands.

Learned Lessons from Surah al-A’la Ayah 1-8

• The believer should glorify Allah and confirm that He is free from whatsoever imperfection in His self, names, attributes, deeds, and rules. Allah is characterized by perfection in His self, names, attributes, deeds, and rules. 

• Allah, Exalted be He, created all creatures and gave them the best form.

• Allah ordained for each creature what is suitable for it, and guided it to how to benefit from it. 

• Allah makes plants and grass grow, then He makes them black stubble. This indicates Allah’s perfect ability.

• Allah gave Messenger Muhammad good news. He told him that He would memorize the Quran and would not forget it, which was a miracle since Messenger Muhammad was illiterate and memorization needs repetition and studying. Besides, Allah told Messenger Muhammad that He would guide him to the easiest way in all his affairs, which was a great blessing. 

• Allah is All-Knowing. He knows the declared and hidden matters. 

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The Noble Quran Surah al-A’la English Translation and Tafsir

 

Introduction to Tafsir of Surah al-A’la

Name of Surah al-A’la

This surah is called al-A’la ‘the most high’ because it begins by [87:1 Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High…] It is a command to glorify Allah and confirm that He is free from any imperfection and that He is characterized by all attributes and names of perfection because He is the Most High. Allah is higher than all things in this universe. This surah is also called ‘Sabbih, glorify.’ 

Relationship with the Previous Surah

Surah at-Tariq comes before surah al-A’la in the written copy of the Quran, al-Mushaf. Surah at-Tariq refers to the creation of man and plants.

86:5 So let man consider from what he was created. 

86:6 He was created from gushing water 

86:11 By the sky that rains repeatedly, 

86:12 and by the earth that splits,

Surah al-A’la mentions details about the creation of man and plants.

87:2 Who created in due proportion, 

87:3 Who ordained and guided, 

87:4 and Who brought forth the pasture, 

87:5 then made it black stubble. 

Main Topics Discussed in Surah al-A’la

Surah al-A’la discusses topics that are usually mentioned in surahs revealed in Mecca. They generally talk about the concept of worshipping Allah alone, Allah’s perfect ability, the Quran, the Day of Judgment, and noble ethics that refine man’s character. 

Surah al-A’la begins by commanding to glorify Allah and confirm that He is free from any imperfection in His self, attributes, names, deeds, statements, and rules. It also commands to ascribe all attributes of greatness and glory to Allah, as He created the creatures in the best form and made plants grow with their different shapes. 

87:1 Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High, 

87:2 Who created in due proportion, 

87:3 Who ordained and guided, 

87:4 and Who brought forth the pasture, 

87:5 then made it black stubble. 

Then the surah refers to the fact that Allah made easy the memorization of the Quran for His Messenger Muhammad that he would not forget it. Then Messenger Muhammad was commanded to admonish people to purify their souls from vices. 

87:6 We shall make you recite and you will not forget, 

87:9 So remind if the reminding profits. 

The surah is concluded with referring to the fact that whoever purifies himself from disbelief in Allah’s Oneness, constantly remembers Allah and His greatness, and does not favor the worldly life over the Hereafter will be successful. 

87:14 Successful is indeed he who purifies himself,  

87:15 and remembers the Name of his Lord and prays.

Virtue of Surah al-A’la 

An-Nu’man bin Bashir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] used to recite surah al-A’la and al-Ghashiyah on two days of Eid and Friday.’ 

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The Noble Quran, Tafsir of Surah at-Tariq, Ayah 11-17 The truthfulness of the Quran & Warning the Disbelievers

 

86:11 By the sky that rains repeatedly, 

86:12 and by the earth that splits,

86:13 surely it is a decisive word,

86:14 and it is not a jest. 

86:15 Indeed, they are devising a plot, 

86:16 and I too am devising a plot. 

86:17 So give the disbelievers a respite; let them for a while.

Relationship with the Previous Part

The previous part confirms Allah’s Oneness and His ability to resurrect people for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. Then this part confirms the truthfulness of the Quran and that Allah revealed it to Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him]. Then the disbelievers, who plot against Messenger Muhammad, are warned of the evil result of their plotting. Finally, Messenger Muhammad is promised that victory will be for him and the believers. 

Tafsir

86:11 By the sky that rains repeatedly, 

86:12 and by the earth that splits,

86:13 surely it is a decisive word,

86:14 and it is not a jest. 

Allah swears by the rain that repeatedly comes down from the sky whereby the earth revives. Then it splits causing plants, fruits, trees, water, and treasures to come out of its underground. 

Allah swears by the sky and the earth that the noble Quran is a decisive word in which there is no doubt. It distinguishes the truth from falsehood. It contains solemn revelation, not a jest, amusement, poetry, or magic. Allah revealed the Quran to bring people out of the darknesses of disbelief in His Oneness and falsehood to the light of belief in His Oneness and the truth. 

86:13 surely it is a decisive word,

This is an eloquent refutation of the claims of the disbelievers who say that the Quran is revealed to Messenger Muhammad to be a source of amusement because it says that they will be resurrected after death for reckoning on the Day of Judgment, which they deny. 

Mentioning that the rain comes down from the sky whereby the earth revives implies that resurrection on the Day of Judgment will certainly take place. Just as the rain causes the earth to revive, Allah, by His will and ability, will make people raise after death for reckoning. 

86:15 Indeed, they are devising a plot, 

86:16 and I too am devising a plot. 

86:17 So give the disbelievers a respite; let them for a while.

The surah is concluded with consoling Messenger Muhammad and giving him the good news of the happy end awaiting him and the believers.

Devising with regard to the disbelievers refers to the plots and schemes they do to harm Messenger Muhammad and the believers.

Devising with regard to Allah, Exalted be He, means giving the disbelievers time so that they keep on sinning and plotting against Messenger Muhammad and the believers, and then Allah suddenly seizes them at the time He wants and punishes them severely. 

The disbelievers devise plots and schemes to harm Messenger Muhammad and the believers. Allah will meet their devising and plotting with giving them time until He decides to punish them severely while they do not expect that His punishment will befall them. He will revenge on them for their plots and schemes at the suitable time He chooses. Therefore, O noble Messenger, ‘Give the disbelievers a respite and do not hope that a swift punishment should befall them. Wait for Allah’s wise scheme against them. Let them for a while. Indeed, whatever is destined to happen will surely happen, but at the time Allah wants.’

Indeed, Allah fulfilled His promise to His Messenger Muhammad and the believers. He gave them victory and severely punished the disbelievers. 

Learned Lessons from Surah at-Tariq Ayah 11-17

• Allah swears by the sky that repeatedly rains and the earth that splits producing plants that the Quran is a decisive word distinguishing the truth from falsehood. It is not something for a jest or amazement. 

• Allah revealed the Quran to Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him].

• The enemies of Islam plot against Messenger Muhammad and believers.

• Allah will justly recompense the enemies of Islam. He will give them a respite in this world so that they keep on their evil plotting until His severe punishment befalls them suddenly. He also has prepared painful torment for them in the Hereafter.

• Divine wisdom necessitates giving Islam’s enemies a respite so that they may repent of their disbelief and plotting against Islam and its followers. However, if they insist on disbelief in Allah’s Oneness and potting against the believers, Allah’s punishment will befall them at the time that He has appointed. 

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The Noble Quran, Tafsir Surah at-Tariq, Ayah 1-10 Watchers over Human Beings

86:1 By the sky and the night comer. 

86:2 And what will make you know what the night comer is? 

86:3 It is the piercing star.

86:4 No soul but has a watcher over it.

86:5 So let man consider from what he was created. 

86:6 He was created from gushing water 

86:7 issuing from between the backbone and the ribs.

86:8 Indeed, He is able to bring him back

86:9 on the day when the secrets are tested.

86:10 Then he will have neither power nor helper.

Tafsir

86:1 By the sky and the night comer. 

86:2 And what will make you know what the night comer is? 

86:3 It is the piercing star.

At-Tariq refers to a star that appears during the night.

 Allah, Exalted be He, swears by the vast sky and the star that appears in the night.

What will you make you know what the night comer is? At-Tariq is a shining star that pierces the darkness of the night with its light whereby the travelers know their way in the sea and land and times of rains and other beneficial things to human beings are known. 

The interrogation is to magnify the greatness of the creation of this universe. It implies that human beings cannot know the reality of this far star no matter how much advancement they may achieve. Even if they can gain much information about it, still their knowledge is incomplete and commensurate with their imperfect intellects. 

Swearing by the sky and the stars that have different shapes and experience various changes indicate that their Creator, who manages their affairs is great. It is Allah, who created this marvelous universe with its wonderful sky, stars, suns, and moon, etc. 

86:4 No soul but has a watcher over it.

No soul but has a watcher from Allah over it. The watchers are angels who protect human beings from harm and dangers. They also record all deeds and statements of human beings, good or evil. In fact, Allah is the Protector and Guardian; however, the angels watch over human beings by His commands. 

The intended meaning is that all deeds and statements of human beings are recorded and they will be called to account for them on the Day of Judgment and recompensed according to them. 

86:5 So let man consider from what he was created. 

86:6 He was created from gushing water 

86:7 issuing from between the backbone and the ribs.

This part of the surah calls man’s attention to consider his creation to confirm that resurrection on the Day of Judgment for reckoning is possible and easy.

Let man consider how he was created in the first place so that he will know Allah’s perfect ability. 

Allah created man from gushing water that comes from the male and female. It comes from the backbone of the male and the ribs of the female. The embryo is formed by the combination of these fluids. It settles in the female’s womb. Then Allah creates the embryo from that fluid. 

‘Let man consider his creation, from what he was created and what he became. He was created from gushing water that comes from the backbones of the male and the ribs of the female. This fact has been secret that no one knows but Allah until the last half-century when modern science has discovered it. It has known that the male fluid is formed in the backbones of the man and the female fluid is formed in the ribs of the woman. Then they are combined and then the embryo is formed. 

The distance between the beginning and the end is great, i.e. between the gushing water from the backbones and the ribs and the rational being with his sophisticated bodily, neurological, mental, and psychological structure. This great distance that the gushing water takes to become a speaking creature reveals that there is a power that pushes this shapeless, will-less, and impotent thing to begin a long, miraculous, and great journey until it reaches this end and becomes this creature. This reveals that there is a guardian appointed by Allah that takes care of this sperm that has no shape, no reason, no will, and no ability throughout its long and miraculous journey that has great wonders more than that what man encounters from the time of his birth and his death [Fi Zilal al-Quran].’ 

86:8 Indeed, He is able to bring him back

86:9 on the day when the secrets are tested.

Allah is able to bring back man after death for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. Indeed, the One who is able to create man in the first place is able to revive him after death. 

On the Day of Judgment, the secrets will be tested, namely, what is hidden in the hearts, such as intentions. When what is hidden in the hearts is tested, they will be revealed and become known. 

Allah created man by combining the fluid from the male and the female. Then, He is able to combine his dispersed parts after death and reform man, bring him back to his original form. 

86:10 Then he will have neither power nor helper.

When man is resurrected on the Day of Judgment for reckoning, he will have neither power nor helper against Allah’s torment. On that day, the disbeliever will be helpless that he cannot help himself nor others.

In this world, he used to have a clan and family that protect him from whatever harm that may touch him. He also used to have allies and helpers who support him. However, the matter will change completely on the Day of Judgment. The disbelievers will stand alone before Allah with no power nor helper against Allah’s punishment. 

Learned Lessons from Surah at-Tariq Ayah 1-10

• Allah swears by the sky and the shining stars that every soul has watchers, who record its sustenance, deeds, and lifespan. Allah swears by whatever He wants of His creatures, but the created beings must only swear by Allah.

• Creating man from nothing is clear evidence confirming that it is possible to re-create man after death for reckoning on the Day of Judgment.

• Allah created man from the water coming from the backbones of the male and the ribs of the female. Then the embryo is formed by combining these fluids.

• Allah will resurrect people for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. On this day, all secrets, deeds, and statements will be revealed. Then people will be recompensed according to their deeds, good or evil.

• On the Day of Judgment, man will have no power nor helper against Allah’s punishment, and the disbeliever will be powerless and supportless. 

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