Read Surah 87. Al-Ala Online from Holy Quran | Islamic References & Recitation

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Bismi All a hi a l rra h m a ni a l rra h eem i

IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE:¹

- Mohammad Asad

According to most of the authorities, this invocation (which occurs at the beginning of every surah with the exception of surah 9) constitutes an integral part of "The Opening" and is, therefore, numbered as verse {1}. In all other instances, the invocation "in the name of God" precedes the surah as such, and is not counted among its verses. - Both the divine epithets rahman and rahim are derived from the noun rahmah, which signifies "mercy", "compassion", "loving tenderness" and, more comprehensively, "grace". From the very earliest times, Islamic scholars have endeavoured to define the exact shades of meaning which differentiate the two terms. The best and simplest of these explanations is undoubtedly the one advanced by Ibn al-Qayyim (as quoted in Manar I,48): the term rahman circumscribes the quality of abounding grace inherent in, and inseparable from, the concept of God's Being, whereas rahim expresses the manifestation of that grace in, and its effect upon, His creation - in other words, an aspect of His activity.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

In the Name of Allah- the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

- Mustafa Khattab

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

- Marmaduke Pickthall

In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful. ¹⁹

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Arabic words "Rahman" and "Rahim" translated "Most Gracious" and "Most Merciful" are both intensive forms referring to different aspects of God's attribute of Mercy. The Arabic intensive is more suited to express God's attributes than the superlative degree in English. The latter implies a comparison with other beings, or with other times or places, while there is no being like unto God, and He is independent of Time and Place. Mercy may imply pity, long-suffering, patience, and forgiveness, all of which the sinner needs and God Most Merciful bestows in abundant measure. But there is a Mercy that goes before even the need arises, the Grace which is ever watchful, and flows from God Most Gracious to all His creatures, protecting the, preserving them, guiding them, and leading them to clearer light and higher life. For this reason the attribute Rahman (Most Gracious) is not applied to any but God, but the attribute Rahim (Merciful), is a general term, and may also be applied to Men. To make us contemplate these boundless gifts of God, the formula: "In the name of God Most Gracious, Most Merciful": is placed before every Sura of the Qur-an (except the ninth), and repeated at the beginning of every act by the Muslim who dedicates his life to God, and whose hope is in His Mercy.

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87:1

سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى Sabbi h i isma rabbika alaAAl a

EXTOL the limitless glory of thy Sustainer's name: [the glory of] the All-Highest,

- Mohammad Asad

Glorify the name of your Rabb, the Most High,

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High,

- Mustafa Khattab

Praise the name of thy Lord the Most High,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Glorify the name of thy Guardian-Lord Most High ⁶⁰⁸⁰

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The word "Lord" by itself is an inadequate rendering here for Rabb. For it implies cherishing, guarding from harm, sustaining, granting all the means and opportunities of development. See n. 20 to i. 2. For shortness, perhaps "Guardian-Lord" will be sufficient in the Text.

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87:2

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ Alla th ee khalaqa fasaww a

who creates [every thing], and thereupon forms it in accordance with what it is meant to be,¹

- Mohammad Asad

I.e., He endows it with inner coherence and with qualities consistent with the functions which it is meant to perform, and thus adapts it a priori to the exigencies of its existence.

Who has created all things and perfected them.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Who created and 'perfectly' fashioned 'all',

- Mustafa Khattab

Who createth, then disposeth;

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Who hath created and further given order and proportion; ⁶⁰⁸¹

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The story of Creation is wonderful and continuous. There are several processes which we contemplate in glorifying Allah's name. First, He brings us into being. Secondly, He endows us with forms and faculties exactly suited to what is expected of us, and to the environments in which our life will be cast, giving to everything due order and proportion.

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87:3

وَٱلَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ Wa a lla th ee qaddara fahad a

and who determines the nature [of all that exists],² and thereupon guides it [towards its fulfilment],

- Mohammad Asad

Cf. the last sentence of 25:2 and the corresponding note [3]; also 20:50 and note [31].

Who has set their destinies and guided them.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and Who ordained precisely and inspired accordingly,

- Mustafa Khattab

Who measureth, then guideth;

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Who hath ordained laws. And granted guidance; ⁶⁰⁸²

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Thirdly, He has ordained laws and decrees, by which we can develop ourselves and fit ourselves into His whole scheme of evolution for all His Creation. He has measured exactly the needs of all, and given us instincts and physical predispositions which fit into His decrees. Fourthly, He gives us guidance, so that we are not the sport of mechanical laws. Our reason and our will are exercised, that we may reach the higher destiny of man.

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87:4

وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَخْرَجَ ٱلْمَرْعَىٰ Wa a lla th ee akhraja almarAA a

and who brings forth herbage,

- Mohammad Asad

Who brings forth green pasture,

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and Who brings forth 'green' pasture,

- Mustafa Khattab

Who bringeth forth the pasturage,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

And Who bringeth out the (green and luscious) pasture. ⁶⁰⁸³

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Fifthly, after maturity comes decay. But even in that decay, as when green pasture tums to stubble, we subserve other ends. In so far as we are animals, we share these processes with other forms of material Creation, animal, vegetable, and even mineral, which all have their appointed laws of growth and decay. But man's higher destiny is referred to in subsequent verses.

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87:5

فَجَعَلَهُۥ غُثَآءً أَحْوَىٰ FajaAAalahu ghuth a an a h w a

and thereupon causes it to decay into rust-brown stubble!³

- Mohammad Asad

I.e., metonymically, "who brings forth life and deals death".

then reduces it to black rubbish.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

then reduces it to withered chaff.

- Mustafa Khattab

Then turneth it to russet stubble.

- Marmaduke Pickthall

And then doth make it (but) swarthy stubble.

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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Surah 87. Al-Ala

Qur'an

Translation

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IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE:1

- Mohammad Asad

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

In the Name of Allah- the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

- Mustafa Khattab

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

- Marmaduke Pickthall

In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful. 19

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

EXTOL the limitless glory of thy Sustainer's name: [the glory of] the All-Highest,

- Mohammad Asad

Glorify the name of your Rabb, the Most High,

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High,

- Mustafa Khattab

Praise the name of thy Lord the Most High,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Glorify the name of thy Guardian-Lord Most High 6080

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

who creates [every thing], and thereupon forms it in accordance with what it is meant to be,1

- Mohammad Asad

Who has created all things and perfected them.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Who created and 'perfectly' fashioned 'all',

- Mustafa Khattab

Who createth, then disposeth;

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Who hath created and further given order and proportion; 6081

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and who determines the nature [of all that exists],2 and thereupon guides it [towards its fulfilment],

- Mohammad Asad

Who has set their destinies and guided them.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and Who ordained precisely and inspired accordingly,

- Mustafa Khattab

Who measureth, then guideth;

- Marmaduke Pickthall

Who hath ordained laws. And granted guidance; 6082

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and who brings forth herbage,

- Mohammad Asad

Who brings forth green pasture,

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

and Who brings forth 'green' pasture,

- Mustafa Khattab

Who bringeth forth the pasturage,

- Marmaduke Pickthall

And Who bringeth out the (green and luscious) pasture. 6083

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and thereupon causes it to decay into rust-brown stubble!3

- Mohammad Asad

then reduces it to black rubbish.

- Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

then reduces it to withered chaff.

- Mustafa Khattab

Then turneth it to russet stubble.

- Marmaduke Pickthall

And then doth make it (but) swarthy stubble.

- Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE:¹

In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful. ¹⁹

Glorify the name of thy Guardian-Lord Most High ⁶⁰⁸⁰

who creates [every thing], and thereupon forms it in accordance with what it is meant to be,¹

Who hath created and further given order and proportion; ⁶⁰⁸¹

and who determines the nature [of all that exists],² and thereupon guides it [towards its fulfilment],

Who hath ordained laws. And granted guidance; ⁶⁰⁸²

And Who bringeth out the (green and luscious) pasture. ⁶⁰⁸³

and thereupon causes it to decay into rust-brown stubble!³