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.
Out of 70, 32 instances of ta`aalaa and its derived forms are reviewed here:
Details of instances a`lawna
There are 2 instances of al-a`lawna in the noun form meaning “superior” found in the Quran in 2 verses across 2 surahs, are detailed below:
[3:139] And you do not weaken, nor do you grieve, and you will be the superior (wa-antumu al-a`lawna), if you have been believers.
[47:35] So, you do not weaken and call to the peace, while you are the superior (wa-antumu al-a`lawna), and God is with yourselves and He will not deprive you of your deeds.
Details of instances of `uluww
There are 4 instances of `uluww in the noun form meaning “exaltedness” found in the Quran in 4 verses across 3 surahs, are detailed below:
[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 high of exceptional misbehavior (wa-la’ta`lunna `uluwwan kabeeran).
[17:43] Glory is His, and He has exalted Himself too high a highest height of what they say (sub’haanahu wa-ta`aalaa `ammaa yaquuluuna uluwwan kabeeran).
[27:14] And they had rejected in them (signs) and had convinced themselves with them out of injustice and exaltedness (wa-is’tay’qanat’haa anfusuhum zul’man wa-`uluwwan). Then you see how has been an end of the corrupters.
[28:83] That is the abode of the Hereafter we reserve it for those who do not desire exaltedness in the earth (lilladheena laa-yureeduuna `uluwwan fee al-ardi), nor (do they commit) corruption, and the end is for the righteous.
Details of instances of `aliyy
There are 11 instances of al-`aliyy in the nominal form meaning “High” found in the Quran in 11 verses across 9 surahs, are detailed below:
Noun
[2:255] God: there is no god except He – the Living, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep can overtake Him. To Him belong whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Is there one who can intercede with Him, except by His permission? He knows what is of their before (past) and what is of their behind (future). And they cannot encompass with anything of His knowledge except of what He has willed. He has extended His Throne to the heavens and the earth, and it does not tire Him in taking care of both of them. And He is the High, the Great (wa-huwa al-`aliyyu al-azeem).
[4:34] The men are supporters of the women for what God has bestowed one of them over other and for what they spend from their wealth. The righteous women are obedient being protectors in the unseen to that which God has protected. And those from whom you fear their ill behavior, then you shall advise them, and shall desert them in the bed, and shall disregard them. But if they have obeyed you, then you do not seek a way against them. Indeed, God has been great High (inna allaha kaana `aliyyan kabeeran).
[22:62] That is of that God – He is the Truth, and that what they invoke other than Him – it is the falsehood, and that God – He is the greatest High (wa-anna allaha huwa al-`aliyyu al-kabeeru).
[31:30] That is of that God – He is the Truth, and that what they call other than Him is the falsehood, and that God – He is the greatest High (wa-anna allaha huwa al-`aliyyu al-kabeeru).
[34:23] And the intercession with Him will not benefit, except for whom He has permitted for him, until when fear has been removed from their hearts, they would have said, “What is that your Lord has said?” They would have said, “The truth.” And He is the greatest High (wa-huwa al-`aliyyu al-kabeeru).
[42:4] To Him belong whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and He is the greatest High (wa-huwa al-`aliyyu al-`azeem).
[42:51] And it has not been for a human that God would speak to him except inspiration, or from behind a barrier, or He sends a messenger to reveal by His permission what He wills. Indeed, He is High, Wise (innahu `aliyyun hakeemun).
[43:4] And indeed, it (Quran) is in the Mother Book with us, is surely, High, Wise (la’`aliyyun hakeemun).
Adjective
[19:50] And we had bestowed to them (Abraham, Isaac, Yakub) from our mercy, and we had made for them high with a promise of truth (wa-ja`alnaa lahum lisaana sid’qin `aliyyan).
[19:57] And we had raised him (Idris) to a high position (wa-rafa`naahu makaanan `aliyyan).
[40:12] That is of that when it has been called God alone, you had disbelieved, and if it were associated with Him, you had believed. So, the judgment belongs to God – the High, the Great (fal-huk’mu lillahi al-`aliyyi al-kabeeri).
Details of instances of al-`ulaa
There are 3 instances of al-`ulaa in the noun verb form meaning “high” found in the Quran in 3 verses across 2 surahs, are detailed below:
Noun
[9:40] If you do not help him (prophet), then certainly God has helped him. When has driven him out those who had disbelieved, he was second of the two. When they both were in the cave, he says to his companion (Abu Bakr), “ Don’t not grieve, indeed, God is with us.” Then God sent down His tranquility upon him, and supported him with forces you do not see them, and made the lowly a word of those who had disbelieved, while God’s word, which is the high (wa-ja`ala kalimata alladheena al-suf’laa wa-kalimatu allahi hiya al-`ul’yaa), and God is Almighty, Wise .
[20:4] A revelation from Who has created the earth and the high heavens (tanzeelan mimman khalaqa al-ardi wal-samaawaati al-`ulaa).
[20:75] And he who comes to Him as a believer, certainly, he has done the righteous deeds, then those – for them are the high ranks (fa-ulaika lahumu al-darajaatu al-`ulaa).
Details of instances of `illiyyeen
There are 2 instances of `illiyyeen in the noun form meaning “written record” found in the Quran in 2 verses of Surah 83: al-Mutaffifeen, are detailed below:
[83:18] Nay, indeed, a record of the righteous will surely be in `illiyyin (kalla inna kitaaba al-abraari lafee `illiyyeena).
[83:19] What have you made know what `illiyyun is (wa-maa adraaka maa illiyyuuna)?
Details of instance of `aal
There is an instance of `aal in the active participle form in the Quran meaning “tyrant” found in the verse, which is detailed below:
[10:83] Then none believed with Moses except descendants of his people for fear of Pharaoh and their leaders, lest he persecutes them. And indeed, Pharaoh was surely a tyrant in the earth (wa-inna fir’`awna la`aalin feel al-ardi), and indeed, he was surely one of the great transgressors.
Details of instances `aaliy
There are 4 instances of `aaliy in the active participle form in the Quran meaning “disaster or blessing” found in 4 verses across 4 surahs are detailed below:
[11:82] So when had come our command, we made its upside to its downside (ja`alnaa `aaliyhaa saafilahaa), and we had rained upon them layers of stones from hard clay.
[15:74] Then we had made its upside to its downside (fa-ja`alnaa `aaliyhaa saafilahaa) and had rained upon them stones of baked clay.
[44:31] from Pharaoh. Indeed, he has been a great arrogant among the transgressors (innahu kaana `aaliyan mina al-mus’rifeena).
[76:21] Their covering will be garments of fine green silk and heavy brocade (`aaliyahum thiyaabu sundusin khud’run wa-is’tab’raqun). And they will be adorned with bracelets of silver and their Lord will give them to drink a pure drink.
Details of instances of `aaleen
There are 2 instances of `aaleen in the active participle form in the Quran meaning “exalted” found in 2 verses across 2 surahs are detailed below:
Noun
[38:75] He said, “O Satan, what has prevented you from prostrating to what I have created with My hands? Have you been arrogant or have you been with the exalted ones (a-s’takbarta am kunta mina al-`aaleena)?”
Adjective
[23:46] To Pharaoh and his advisers that they had turned arrogant, and they had been an exalted people (wa-kaanuu qawman `aaleena).
Details of instances of `aaliyat
There are 2 instances of `aaliyat in the active participle form in the Quran meaning “high” found in 2 verses across 2 surahs are detailed below:
[69:22] In high Heaven (fee jannatin `aaliyatin).
[88:10] will be in high Heaven (fee jannatin `aaliyatin).
Details of instance of muta`aal
There is only one instance of muta`aal in the active participle form in the Quran meaning “High” found in the verse detailed below:
[13:9] Knower of the secret and the declaration – the greatest High (`aalimu al-ghaybi wal-shahaadati al-kabeeru muta`aali).
God is the wise High, Who communicates with humans through inspiration, speaking behind a barrier and sending a messenger to those who are chosen by Him to guide humanity. The Quran is wise High being in the Mother Book with Him, and the word of God is High while the word of the disbelievers is low. God is the High, the Great and He does not tire in taking care of His dominion extended to the heavens and the earth. He is the greatest High and Knower of the secret and the declaration. God is the Truth and to call other than Him is the falsehood. Those who have been arrogant and have exalted themselves in the earth are the great transgressors. God has mentioned the Satan and Pharaoh as examples to be greatest transgressors for exalting themselves. When God’s command comes, His punishment is very severe and He has made upside down to destroy the wicked nations and the corrupted people. The record of the righteous will be in written book and those who will come to God as righteous will be in high Heaven and they will wear garments of fine green silk and will be adorned with bracelets of silver and they will drink pure drink in it.
Those who can understand the relationship between God and humans that God is Lord and humans are His servants, while God is the Truth and the greatest High and His word is the same, they never call other than Him nor do they follow word other than His to nullify their works making them great transgressors in the earth and great losers in the Hereafter.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (01/20/2023).