Commentary on Surah al-A'lā

﴾In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful﴿

﴾Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High * who created and fashioned perfectly * who ordained and guided * who brought forth the pasture * then reduced it to blackened stubble * We shall make you recite, so you will not forget * except what Allah wills. Surely He knows what is declared and what is concealed * We shall ease you toward the way of ease * So remind, if the reminder benefits * The one who fears will take heed * but the most wretched will avoid it * the one who will burn in the greatest Fire * and then neither die nor live therein﴿.

The basmala has already been discussed, including the fact that it is an independent verse of the Book of Allah. It is not part of al-Fātihah, al-Baqarah, Āl Imrān, or any other surah of the Quran. Rather, it is an independent verse revealed at the beginning of every surah except Surah Barā'ah.

﴾Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High﴿. The address here is directed to the Messenger—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him and his family. The forms of address directed to the Messenger in the Noble Quran fall into three categories:

The first category is where evidence establishes that it applies exclusively to him, in which case it is exclusive to him.

The second category is where evidence establishes that it is general, in which case it applies generally.

The third category is where no evidence indicates either of these. In that case, the wording is addressed specifically to him, while its ruling applies generally to both him and the Muslim community.

An example of the first category is the statement of Allah Most High:

﴾Have We not expanded your breast for you.