36 - الْعَلِيُّ

[Bint e Aisha]

الْعَلِيُّ

 

Translation 

 

الْعَلِيُّ  is translated as The Most High and The Exalted. It comes from A’alaa and literally means what is in the translation. 

 

Definition

It is that Being Who is the highest of all ranking and everything is below Him. Another explanation is that it is The Highest Being, that Being Who is higher than His Makhlooq so Allah ta’ala is Khaaliq and is higher in all aspects and all forms and traits than the creation. 

 

Some translate الْعَلِيُّ  as The High and Dominant .

 

In the Qur’an

It is used in the Qur’an in different ways and paired with other names i.e. 

 

فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِ
 

But all judgment rests with God, the Exalted, the Great [Surah Mu’min: 12]

 

وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ - He is the Exalted, the Supreme. (Aayatul Kursi)

 

Though there is not much commentary on this name, it is an important name. It is very comprehensive and includes many things. 

 

Mentioned in the Skies

When the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam went on the Mi’raaj, he heard this name being mentioned in the sky where Allah ta’ala’s greatness and exaltedness is mentioned. 

سبحان العلي الاعلى، سبحانه وتعالى
 

Subhaanal ‘Aliyyul a’alaa Subhaanahu wata’ala 

 

Mentioned in Du’a

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam often began Du’a by mentioning the greatness of Allah ta’ala.

 

Salamah ibn Al Akwa’ RA reports:

“Whenever I heard Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam start Du’a, he would say,
 

 سبحان ربي العلي الاعلى الوهاب - Allah my Rabb is Exalted and Pure and the Bestower

 ‘Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Aliyyil A’ala Al Wahhab
 

[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Musnad Ahmad, Mustadrak Hakim]

 

Generally when making Du’a we should praise Allah ta’ala first and one of the way is using His names.

 

Counsel

Allah is Most High and we should keep His exaltedness in our thoughts and hearts. When a person does that then he will view Makhlooq in a different way knowing that Allah ta’ala is the source of ease and comfort. The person will not be disappointed when it is not found from Makhlooq and that is the reason why people get hopeless and depressed as they put their hopes, trust and expectations in people. 

 

It is very effective in Du’a. In one Du’a four names are used together to call out to Allah ta’ala:

یا عَظِيمُ یا حَلِيمُ يا عَلِيمُ  يا عَلِيُّ 

 

Scholars say this name relieves difficulty. The connection here is that Allah ta’ala is the Most High and Exalted and He is The One Who can relieve and give ease from difficulty.

We should have firm belief in our heart regarding this trait that He is The One Who can do anything.  

 

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