There are 70 instances of ta`aalaa and its derived forms classified into 14 different groups as shown in the table below with their meanings, while we know that an Arabic word may have a range of meanings depending on context. The review of these instances may help us to establish the idea in our hearts that God is too high is a physical location that we can only imagine, thus cannot be thought of anything or anyone to associate with Him.
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com.
However, out of 70 instances of ta`aalaa and its derived forms 38 instances are reviewed here:
Details of instances of ta`aalaa
There are 20 instances of ta`aalaa in the verb form I meaning “to exalt” found in the Quran in 20 verses across 13 surahs, are detailed below:
[6:100] And they make the jinns partners for God, even He has created them, and attribute sons and daughters to Him without knowledge. Glory to His and He has exalted so High from what they attribute (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yasifuuna).
[7:190] Then when He gives them a good one, they have made partners for Him in what He gives them, while God has exalted so High from what they associate (fa-ta`aalaa allahu `ammaa ush’rikuuna).
[10:18] And they worship other than God which cannot harm them nor can it benefit them, while they say, “These are our intercessors with God.” Say, “Do you inform God of what He does not know in the heavens nor in the earth?” Glory to His and He has exalted so High from what they associate (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[16:1] There has come God’s command, so you do not be impatient for it. Glory to His and He has exalted so High from what they associate (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yush’rikuuna).
[16:3] He has created the heavens and the earth with the truth. He has exalted so High from what they associate (ta`aalaa `ammaa ush’rikuuna).
[17:4] And we decreed on the Children of Israel in the scripture; surely, you will make corruption twice in the earth, and surely, you will reach a great misbehavior (wa-la’ta`lunna `uluwwan kabeeran).
[17:7] If you have done good, you have done good for yourselves (your souls), and if you have done evil, then it is for themselves (your souls). Then when had come the promise of the second time, that they will sadden your faces, and that they will enter the Masjid just as they had done the first time, and that they will destroy destroying of what they (you) had raised up (wa-li’yutabbiruu maa `alaw tat’beeran).
[17:43] Glory to His and He has exalted so High to a greatest height from what they say (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yaquuluuna uluwwan kabeeran).
[20:114] That God has exalted so High is the King, the Truth (fa-ta’aalaa allahu al-maliku al-haqqu). And do (prophet) not hasten with the Quran prior to that its revelation is completed to you; and say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge.”
[23:91] God has not taken any son, nor has He been any god with Him. Then surely, each god would have taken away of what he has created, and surely, there would have overpowered of them over other (wa-la’`alaa ba`duhum `alaa ba`din). Glory to God from what they attribute.
[23:92] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed that He has exalted so High from what they associate (fa-ta`aalaa `ammaa ush’rikuuna).
[23:116] That God has exalted so High is the King, the Truth (fa-ta’aalaa allahu al-maliku al-haqqu). There is no god except He, Lord of the Honorable Throne.
[27:31] That do not exalt yourselves against me (a-laa-ta`luu `alayya) and come to me as submitters.
[27:63] Is He whoever guides you in darknesses of the land and the sea, and Whoever sends the winds with good news as His mercy? Is there any god with God? God has exalted so High from what they associate (ta`aalaa allahu `ammaa ush’rikuuna).
[28:4] Indeed, Pharaoh exalted high in the earth (inna fir’`awna `alaa feel ardi), and made sects into its people oppressing a group from them slaughtering their sons and letting live their women. Indeed, he had been among the corruptors.
[28:68] And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; there has not been the choice for them. Glory to God and He has exalted so High from what they associate (sub’haana allahi wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa ush’rikuuna).
[30:40] God is One Who has created you, then He has provided for you, then He will cause death to you, then He will give life to you. Is there any of your partners who does anything of that? Glory to His and He has exalted so High from what they associate (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa ush’rikuuna).
[39:67] And they (idol worshipers) have not appraised God truth of His appraisal; and the whole earth will be at His Grip on a Day of the Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded at His Right Hand. Glory to His and He has exalted so High from what they associate (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa ush’rikuuna).
[44:19] And that you (people of Pharaoh) do not exalt high over God (wa-an laa-ta`luu `alaa allahi). Indeed, I (Moses) come to you with a clear authority.
[72:3] And that He has exalted so High is a Majesty of our Lord (wa-annahu ta`aalaa jaddu rabbinaa); He has neither taken a mate, nor a son.
Details of instances of ta`aala
There are 8 instances of ta`aala in the verb form IV meaning “to come” found in 8 verses of the Quran across 6 surahs, are detailed below:
[3:61] Then whoever has argued with you (Muhammad) after what has come to you (Muhammad) of the knowledge, then say, “Come, we call (ta`aalaw nad’`u) our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then we pray humbly to call God’s curse upon the liars.”
[3:64] Say, “O people of the scripture, come to a fair agreement between ourselves and between yourselves (ta`aalaw ilaa kalimatin sawaain baynanaa wa-baynakum) that we will not worship except God, nor will we associate partner anything with Him, nor will we take of us to other as lords other than God.” Then if they have turned away, then say, “You shall bear witness of that we are submitters.
[3:167] And that He might make evident those who have been hypocrites; and it has been said to them, “Come, fight in a path of God, or defend (ta`aalaw qaatiluu fee sabeeli allahi).” They said, “If we knew fighting, surely, we would have followed you.” They were that day nearer to disbelief than them for the faith saying with their mouths what has not been in their hearts. And God is Knower of what they conceal.
[4:61] And when it has been said to them, “Come to what God has sent down and to the messenger (ta`aalaw ilaa maa anzala allahu wa-ilaa al-rasuuli),” you (Muhammad) have seen the hypocrites to turn away from you (Muhammad) in aversion.
[5:104] When it has been said to them, “Come to what God has sent down and to the messenger (ta`aalaw ilaa maa anzala allahu wa-ilaa al-rasuuli),” they said, “Our sufficiency is what we have found our forefathers upon it.” What about if it had been that their forefathers were not knowing anything, nor were they guided?
[6:151] Say: “Come, I (Muhammad) will recite to you what your Lord has forbidden upon you (ta`aalaw at’lu maa harrama rabbukum `alaykum) that you do not associate anything with Him; and being good with the parents; and you do not kill your children out of poverty, we provide for you and for them; and you do not come near the lewdness, what has been apparent of them or what has been concealed. And you do not kill the life which God has forbidden except for the justice. That He has enjoined you with it so that you may think.”
[33:28] O you prophet, say to your wives, “If you have made to desire the life of the world and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and will release you a fair release (fa-ta`aalayna umatti`kunna wa-usarrih’kunna saraahan jameelan).
[63:5] When it has been said to them, “Come, will ask forgiveness for you messenger of God (ta`aalaw yas’tagh’fir lakum rasuulu allahi),” they (hypocrites) have turned aside their heads, and you have seen them to turn away, while they are arrogant.
Details of instance of is’ta`a’laa
An instance of is’ta`a’laa in the verb form X meaning “to overcome” found in the Quran, is detailed below:
[20:64] “So, put your plan together, then come to a line. And certainly, has succeeded today whoever has beat (wa-qad aflaha al-yawma mani is’ta`a’laa).”
Details of instances of a`a’laa
There are 9 instances of a`a’laa in the nominal form both in noun and adjective meaning “High” found in the Quran in 9 verses across 9 surahs, are detailed below:
Noun
[16:60] For those who do not believe in the Hereafter is an example of the evil, while to God is an example of the High (wa-lillahi al-mathalu al-a`alaa), and He is the Almighty, the Wise.
[20:68] We said, “Do (Moses) not fear. Indeed, you (Moses) will be the superior (innaka anta al-a`a’laa).
[30:27] And He is One Who initiates the creation, then He repeats it, and it is easier for Him. And to Him is the example of the High in the heavens and the earth (wa-lahu al-mathalu al-a`a’laa fee al-samaawaati wal-ardi), and He is the Almighty, the Wise.
[37:8] They (devils) cannot listen to the Society of the High (laa-yassamma`uuna al-mala-i al-a`a’laa), and are bombarded from every side.
[38:69] It has not been for me (Muhammad) any knowledge with the Society of the High (maa kaana liya min `il’mi bil-mala-i al-a`a’laa) when they were disputing.
[53:7] And He (God) has been in the Horizon of the High (wa-huwa bil-ufuqi al-a`a’laa).
Adjective
[79:24] Then he (Pharaoh) said, “I am your lord, the high (fa-qaala anaa rabbukumu al-a`a’laa).
[87:1] You shall glorify the Name of your Lord, the High (sabbihi is’ma rabbika al-a`a’laa).
[92:20] Except seeking for a pleasure of his Lord, the High (illaa ib’tighaa-a wajhi rabbihi al-a`a’laa).
From reviewing these instances we may have a clear idea of the High Society and may learn about the feud in it including a consequence of those who exalt themselves to disregard God. But this review may help us to get rid of idol worshiping if we can reflect that associating partner(s) with God in His praise and prayers is a human tragedy. He has exalted Himself so High to a physical location of unimaginable leaving no room for us to associate anything or anyone with Him except to glorify His name seeking for His pleasure. He is the example of the High of His own being the Almighty, the Wise. He took His servant to the ultimate point and came down from His position, the Horizon of the High to inspire the Quran all at once into his soul, and has addressed the people of the previous scripture and the believers of the scripture being a sent down (Quran) to make an agreement that they will never associate partner(s) with Him. Thus, the Arabic phrase in the Quran, sub’haana allahi wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa ush’rikuuna or sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa ush’rikuuna, which is often heard to recite to show a Majesty to God should not be just a verbal expression as show up but should be a declaration of what is in the hearts to avoid idol worshiping being a way of showing Majesty to Him.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (01/13/2023).