شرح سورة الأعلى | الحلقة الأولى | برنامج آيات تتلى | د أحمد عبد المنعم

There are certain surahs we hear or read frequently because the more they are repeated, the more they become ingrained in our hearts. Surah Al-A'la is a magnificent surah that we hear often, especially during these days of Ramadan. Many imams recite it in the Witr prayer, beginning the first three rak'ahs with Surah Al-A'la. As we mentioned, this isn't a choice made by the imam, but rather a practice narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also frequently recited Surah Al-A'la on Fridays, after the Friday sermon. He would recite it in the first rak'ah of the Friday prayer. He (peace and blessings be upon him) also recited it in the Eid prayer, along with Surah Al-A'la and Surah Al-Ghashiyah. In fact, sometimes both Surah Al-A'la and Surah Al-Ghashiyah coincided, and he would recite Surah Al-A'la in both. Imagine the awe-inspiring gathering of Muslims in the Eid prayer or the Friday prayer, with Surah Al-A'la being recited to them weekly. Let's examine the position of Surah Al-A'la in the Quran. We find that Surah At-Tariq precedes Surah Al-A'la, and before Surah At-Tariq... Surah At-Tariq and Surah Al-Buruj In Surah Al-Buruj, there is a war waged by the people of falsehood against the people of faith, involving killing, torture, and burning. Then, at the end of the Surah, there is reassurance that the Quran is preserved. Surah At-Tariq also offers reassurance that God is the One who protects every soul, the One who protects the heavens in all their vastness. And God is also capable of protecting the revelation from the devils. Now we come to Surah Al-A'la. We want to read Surah Al-A'la, and I'm mindful of this order: Surah Al-Buruj, Surah At-Tariq. Surah Al-A'la begins with "Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High." (Al-A'la: 1) What is the connection between "Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High" and the efforts of the people of falsehood to torment the believers in Surah Al-Buruj, and the efforts of the people of falsehood to secretly undermine the religion through treachery in Surah At-Tariq? "Glorify" means to declare God free from all imperfection. God is never described as imperfection. His names are the Most Beautiful, and His attributes are the Most Sublime. He is never described as imperfection. Where is this imperfection? This imperfection that the polytheists might claim, or that might be thoughts that Satan casts into the hearts of the believers—pay attention—especially during times of weakness, especially during times of torment for the believers, especially during times of arrogance. Falsehood. At this moment, some believers may experience frustration and ask, "What is this? Why is God abandoning us?" How can we become the superior ones? "And you will be superior if you are [true] believers." (Quran 3:139) The disbelievers are the ones who possess material wealth, worldly possessions, and children. These thoughts must be kept far from God. God is the supporter of His religion. God will perfect His light, even if the disbelievers detest it. Never think that they will ever achieve a permanent victory over the believers. Rather, "And such days We alternate among people so that God may distinguish those who have believed and take from among you martyrs. And God does not like..." (Quran 3:140) The wrongdoers” (Al Imran: 140). So the surah begins with, “Beware of having ill thoughts about God, glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High.” Glorification means declaring God – Exalted is He – free from all imperfection. Therefore, when you examine the instances of glorification, sometimes you find them in places where a believer might think, or Satan might whisper to him, that he has ill thoughts about God. For example, “There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers” (Al Anbiya: 87). Jonah – peace be upon him – said, “Glory be to You,” meaning, O Lord, I will never have ill thoughts about You, no matter what happens to me. That is, no matter what I endure, no matter what pain I experience, despite that, he says, “There is no deity except You; exalted are You.” I declare You free from all imperfection, but I am the one at fault. This is how a believer should deal with God's decrees: to declare God—exalted is He—free from any imperfection and to acknowledge that every action of His—exalted is He—is full of wisdom and mercy, even if this wisdom and mercy are not apparent to humankind. Rather, one should accuse oneself and one's own intellect, saying, "Indeed, I was among the wrongdoers." I am the one at fault. Therefore, when the Muslims said in the Battle of Uhud, "How could this happen? How could we be defeated when the Messenger of God—peace and blessings be upon him—was with us? How could we, the believers, be defeated?" God—exalted is He—said, "Say, 'It is from yourselves.'" (Al Imran 3:165). You must accuse yourself in these statements. "Glorify the name of your L...