Al-Ali
Allah is Al-Aliyy, the most exalted and most high. He exceeds all others and there is nothing higher. He is the one who’s rank, and station are the highest. He is above all that has or will ever be.
From the root ‘a-l-w which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to be high, elevated, lofty to be exalted, to rise up, to ascend to be higher, to exceed, surpass to overcome, overwhelm to advance, promote, rise above to mount, be overtop, eminent.
That is because Allah is the Truth, and that what they call upon other than Him is falsehood, and because Allah is the Most High, the Grand. (Quran 31:30)
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great. (Quran 42:4)
And it is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a partition or that He sends a messenger to reveal, by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise. (Quran 42:51)
And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to one another], “What has your Lord said?” They will say, “The truth.” And He is the Most High, the Grand. (Quran 34:23)
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Name: |
Al-Aliyy |
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Al-Aliyy in Arabic: |
ٱلْعَلِيُّ |
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Arabic root: |
(ع ل و) |
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Al-Aliyy meaning in English: |
The Most High in All Aspects, The Most Exalted |
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Al-Aliyy meaning in Urdu: |
بہت بلند و بالا, بڑی شان والا |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
5 times |
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Tasbeeh: |
- |
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Asma-ul-Husna with similar meaning: |
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Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is known as Al-Aliyy, The Highest in All Aspects. This attribute signifies that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) exceeds everything that is in the Heavens and on earth in rank and power. He is above everything that was and ever will be. Al-Aliyy comes from the Arabic root ayn-lam-waow (ع ل و), which has these conventional Arabic connotations: to be elevated, high, lofty, ascend, rise above, surpass, exceed, overwhelm, overcome, promote, advance, promote, mount, and be eminent.
Al-Aliyy is mentioned five times in the Holy Quran:
سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى
“Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High.”
The meaning of Al-Aliyy can be taken literally and figuratively. When taken literally, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is High above us in the Heavens. For instance, when we seek refuge with Him or make dua we intuitively look upwards. Similarly, bowing our heads shows that Allah is higher than us. While prostrating in Salah, we say سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى (Glory is to my Lord, the Most High), and it is also stated in the Quran:
يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوۡقِهِمۡ وَيَفۡعَلُونَ مَا يُؤۡمَرُونَ
They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.
Being high also refers to Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Thro,ne which is interpreted as the place from where He governs the whole universe and showers His blessings on His creations. The most well-known verse describing Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Throne is Ayat-ul-Kursi (Quran 2:255).
Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) also mentioned at other places in the Quran:
هُوَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ يَعۡلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعۡرُجُ فِيهَاۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمۡ أَيۡنَ مَا كُنتُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٞ
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.
The Quran also mentions that things ascend to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). This means that everything is low and rises upwards towards Him. The Quran describes this aspect:
تَعۡرُجُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيۡهِ فِي يَوۡمٖ كَانَ مِقۡدَارُهُۥ خَمۡسِينَ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٖ
The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years.
Al-Aliyy figuratively means that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is highest in attributes. He is above everything and everyone that exists in the Heavens and on earth. As with many of Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) names, Al-Aliyy also reflects a state of grandeur and might. That is why He is the Exalted in all aspects.
Al-Aliyy is the One who is Exalted and High in both Essence and Attributes. He is free of any imperfections. Our limited intellect simply cannot comprehend His greatness and His perfection.
Believing that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is Al-Aliyy reassures us that He is The Exalted and The Only One we should turn to and rely upon in hardships and sorrow. To demonstrate this, we can quote the example of Hazrat Musa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), who was fearful to appear before Fir’aun and cast his staff. He was comforted by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى):
وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنۡ أَذِنَ لَهُۥۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمۡ قَالُواْ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمۡۖ قَالُواْ ٱلۡحَقَّۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡكَبِيرُ
“And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to one another], “What has your Lord said?” They will say, “The truth.” And He is the Most High, the Grand.”
It is also narrated by Ibn Abi Awfa (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: 'I cannot learn anything of the Quran; teach me something that I can say instead of reciting the Quran.' The Prophet said:
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ’
Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is none worthy of worship except Allah, Allah is Most Great, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah the Exalted and Magnificent. (Sunan an-Nasa'i 924).
Frequently reciting this name helps during traveling and improves destiny. Reciting this name in excess and wearing it would increase one’s popularity among people. Moreover, writing this name on a piece of paper and keeping it with you will help in achieving success and a higher rank in work.
Naming children after this attribute will help them attain a high rank among peers. However, they must be taught not to misuse their position and reputation and must be fair and just. They will be respected and honored and they should help those less fortunate than themselves.
Two names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) are quite similar in meaning to Al-Aliyy. They are Al-Ala (The Most High) and Al-Muta'Ali (The High Above, The Exalted). These names highlight Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Supreme Nature and Loftiness as compared to all His creations.
Al-Aliyy is an intrinsic quality of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) whereas Al-Muta'Ali has a more intense and powerful meaning. Al-Ala appears five times in the Holy Quran and Al-Muta'Ali appears only once.
Names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) that have a similar meaning or connection to Al-Aliyy are as follows:
Al-Kabeer – The Great One
Al-Jaleel – The Majestic One
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًاۚ إِلَيۡهِ يَصۡعَدُ ٱلۡكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلۡعَمَلُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُ يَرۡفَعُهُۥۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَمۡكُرُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ شَدِيدٞۖ وَمَكۡرُ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ
Whoever desires honor [through power] – then to Allah belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those – it will perish.
Ibn 'Abbas (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported that the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite this dua the time of trouble (in these words):
“There is no god but Allah, the Great, the Tolerant; there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the Magnificent Throne There is no god but Allah, the Lord of the Heaven and the earth, the Lord of the Edifying Throne.” (Sahih Muslim 2730a)