Surah Al-A'la — Word by Word
الأعلى
The Most High
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
sabbiḥi is'ma rabbika l-aʿlā
Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,
alladhī khalaqa fasawwā
Who created and proportioned
wa-alladhī qaddara fahadā
And who destined and [then] guided
wa-alladhī akhraja l-marʿā
And who brings out the pasture
fajaʿalahu ghuthāan aḥwā
And [then] makes it black stubble.
sanuq'ri-uka falā tansā
We will make you recite, [O Muḥammad], and you will not forget,
illā mā shāa l-lahu innahu yaʿlamu l-jahra wamā yakhfā
Except what Allāh should will. Indeed, He knows what is declared and what is hidden.
wanuyassiruka lil'yus'rā
And We will ease you toward ease.
fadhakkir in nafaʿati l-dhik'rā
So remind, if the reminder should benefit;
sayadhakkaru man yakhshā
He who fears [Allāh] will be reminded.
wayatajannabuhā l-ashqā
But the wretched one will avoid it
alladhī yaṣlā l-nāra l-kub'rā
[He] who will [enter and] burn in the greatest Fire,
thumma lā yamūtu fīhā walā yaḥyā
Neither dying therein nor living.
qad aflaḥa man tazakkā
He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself
wadhakara is'ma rabbihi faṣallā
And mentions the name of his Lord and prays.
bal tu'thirūna l-ḥayata l-dun'yā
But you prefer the worldly life,
wal-ākhiratu khayrun wa-abqā
While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.
inna hādhā lafī l-ṣuḥufi l-ūlā
Indeed, this is in the former scriptures,
ṣuḥufi ib'rāhīma wamūsā
The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.