87:1
“Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High.”
The opening command gave the Muslims the phrase for sajdah (prostration) in prayer – "Subhana Rabbiyal-Ala" – establishing a living connection between Quranic revelation and daily worship.
All Surahs
Surah 87Makki
الأعلى
The Most High
Al Ala
Also known as: As-Sabbih (The One Who Glorifies)
Verses
19
Revelation
Makki
Period
Early Makkan
Surah No.
87 / 114
Overview
Al-Ala is one of the earliest revelations, commanding the Prophet to glorify the name of his Lord, the Most High. The surah moves through the themes of divine creation and providence, the revelation of the Quran and its preservation, the nature of human forgetfulness, the moral contrast between those who purify themselves and those who prefer worldly life, and the eternal permanence of the scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa.
أسباب النزول
Occasion of Revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul)
This surah was revealed in the earliest phase of the Meccan period. When the Prophet first received it, he began using "Subhana Rabbiyal-Ala" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) in prostration during prayer, as instructed by this revelation. The Prophet loved this surah greatly and recited it in the Friday and Eid prayers alongside Al-Ghashiyah.
Key Themes
Glorification of Allah, the Most HighDivine creation, proportion, and providenceThe preservation and ease of the QuranPurification of the soul and its successThe transience of worldly life versus the permanence of the HereafterContinuity with the scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa
Notable Verses
87:16-17
“But you prefer the life of this world, while the Hereafter is better and more enduring.”
A timeless diagnosis of the human condition: the preference for immediate, fleeting comfort over the eternal reward of the Hereafter.
Virtues of this Surah
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite this surah in the first raka'ah of Jumu'ah (Friday) prayer and in both Eid prayers, reflecting its special status among the short Meccan surahs.