Al-Huda
Foundation, NJ U.S.A.
the Message Continues ... 5/170
HOME - NEWSLETTERS - BOOKS - ARTICLES
Article 1 - Article 2 - Article 3 - Article 4 - Article 5 - Article 6 - Article 7 - Article 8 - Article 9 - Article 10 - Article 11 - Article 12
SURAH AL-A'LA (THE MOST HIGH) OF THE GLORIOUS QUR'AN
There is a disagreement among
writers of exegesis whether this
Surah was revealed in Makkah or
Madinah because in the later
part of the Surah, Salat and
Zakat has been discussed.
Allama Sayyied Muhammad Husayn
Tabatabai preferred that the
first part be considered Makki
and the later part as Madani.
There are 19 Ayahs of this
Surah. It may be divided into
two parts; one part is addressed
to the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.) himself about
praise of Allah and the duties
of Prophet Hood. Seven Great
Names of Allah are mentioned;
the other part deals with God
fearing faithful and hard
hearted unbelievers.
According to the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.): “Whoever recites
this Surah, he will be rewarded
ten virtues for every word
revealed on Prophet Ibrahim,
Prophet Musa, and Prophet
Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.)”. One of
the Companions of the Commander
of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.)
says that he performed prayers
in the lead of Imam Ali (a.s.),
he always recited this Surah and
said: “If you were aware of the
blessings of this Surah you
would have read it ten times. As
if you have their (Suhuf) Holy
Writ. The Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.) loved this Surah” It
may be noted that maximum
benefits may be accrued if we
understand the contents of this
Surah and practice in our life!
In
the Name of Allah, the
Beneficent, the Merciful
(Muhammad), Glorify the name of
your Lord, the Most High, Who
has created (all things),
decreed their destinies, and
provided them with Guidance. It
is He who has caused the grass
to grow, then caused it to
wither away. We shall teach you
(the Qur’an) and you will not
forget it unless Allah Wills it
to be otherwise. He knows all
that is made public and all that
remains hidden. We shall make
all your tasks easy. Therefore,
keep on preaching as long as it
is of benefit. Those who have
fear of Allah will benefit but
the reprobate will turn away and
suffer the heat of the Great
Fire wherein they neither live
nor die. Lasting happiness will
be for those who purify
themselves, remember the name of
the Lord, and pray to him.
However, (the unbelievers)
prefer the worldly life even
though the life hereafter will
be better and will last forever.
This is what is written in the
ancient heavenly Books, the
Scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa.
This Surah is normally recited
in the Eid Congregations.
The Guidance referred above is
Cosmogonic (Takwini). But Allah
has provided the Legal Guidance
(Tashri’i) through Prophets and
Revelations. The
famous Zoologist Cressy Morrison
in his “The Secret of Cosmogony
of Man” has narrated many
examples of the birds that
travel thousands of miles to
migrate and after many months
retrace their passage and find
their native habitast. Some of
the birds like bats find their
way at night like radar systems.
Different insects have
microscopic eyesight. Similarly,
dogs have been given abnormal
sense of smelling to identify
objects.
Purification referred to in Ayah
14 may point towards polytheism,
physical as well as spiritual
purification.
Avoid all sinful acts
and perform virtuous deeds.
It may also mean to pay Zakat
Fitra to purify one’s wealth and
spirit.
It is stated in many traditions
that the love of the worldly
life is the cause of all sins!
There is a Tradition narrated by
Abu Dharr that he asked the
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) about
the number of prophets, he
replied 124,000. He asked: “How
many Messengers?” The Noble
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) replied:
“three hundred thirteen. Four
Prophets among them were Arabs;
Prophet Hud, Prophet Saleh,
Prophet Shoaib, and your
Prophet.” Abu Dharr asked: “O
Prophet of God! How many Books
did Allah revealed?” He
(s.a.w.a.s.) replied: “One
hundred and four books; ten
books on Adam, fifty books on
Shees, thirty books on Idrees,
ten on Ibrahim, Taurait on Musa,
Injeel on I’sa, Zubur on Daud
and Furqan on the Prophet of
Islam.”
The Infallible Imam Zain-al-Abedin
(a.s.) said: “Causes of sins
were; disobedience by Shaitan,
greed caused Tak-e-Aula by Adam,
jealousy, love of women, love of
world, love for power, love of
comforts, love of superiority,
love of wealth.”
The Glorious Qur’an Translation
by Ayatollah Nasir Makaram
Shirazi |
DISCLAIMER:
All material published by Al-Huda.com / And the Message Continues is the sole responsibility of its author's).
The opinions and/or assertions contained therein do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of this site,
nor of Al-Huda and its officers.