Al-Ala

Surah 87 of the Quran
الأعلى
Al-Aʻlā
The Most High
ClassificationMeccan
Other namesGlory to Your Lord in the Highest, The All-Highest
PositionJuzʼ 30
No. of verses19
No. of words72
No. of letters296
Page from an Ottoman Qur'an with Al-Ala and the start of the next surah.

Al-Aʻlā (Arabic: الأعلى, lit.'The Most High, Glory To Your Lord In The Highest') is the eighty-seventh chapter (surah) of the Qur'an, with 19 ayat or verses.

Al-A'la describes the Islamic view of existence, the Oneness of Allah, and Divine revelation, additionally mentioning rewards and punishments. Mankind often hides things from each other and from themselves as well. The sura reminds its readers that Allah knows the things that are declared and things that lie hidden. The final verse of this Sura affirms that a similar message was also revealed to Abraham and Moses in the scriptures.[1] This sura is part of the series of Al-Musabbihat as it begins with the glorification of Allah. This is a Makkan surah. The first 7 Āyāt (verses) were revealed during the first years of Makkan life.

One of the companions of Ali said that he prayed twenty consecutive nights behind him and he did not recite any Surah, except Surah A’la. Surat Al-A'lā is among the most recited suras in the Jummah and Witr prayers.

  1. ^ Sells, Michael, Approaching The Qur'an, p. 72-73, ISBN 1-883991-69-2