Surah al Ala in my Life – Part 2

Rana Rais Khan – Founder Hiba Family Resource Centre

Ibn Abbas (rta) used to pray Witr with three units including the Surahs: ‘Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High’ (Surah al Ala), ‘Say o you disbelievers’ (Surah al Kafiroon) and ‘Say He is Allah, the One’ (Surah al Ikhlaas). (An Nasai)

Surah al Ala is among the seven Musabbihaat Surahs that begin with the glorification of Allah (swt). Surah al Ala is one of the early Surahs revealed at Makkah. Let’s look at the following verses for understanding, reflection and action:

وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ فَذَكِّرْ إِنْ نَفَعَتِ الذِّكْرَى سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَنْ يَخْشَىٰ وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا الْأَشْقَى الَّذِي يَصْلَى النَّارَ الْكُبْرَىٰ ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّىٰ وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّىٰ بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَفِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَىٰ صُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ

8. And We will ease you toward ease.

9. So remind, If the reminder should benefit,

10. He who fears (Allah) will be reminded.

11. But the wretched one will avoid it –

12. (He) who will (enter and) burn in the greatest fire,

13. Neither dying therein nor living.

14. He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself

15. And mentions the name of his Lord and prays.

16. But you prefer the worldly life,

17. While the hereafter is better and more enduring.

18. Indeed, this is in the former scriptures,

19. The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.     

In the eighth verse of the Surah, Allah’s (swt) love is evident for Prophet Muhammad (sa). He knew that the messenger’s (sa) mission was challenging and even heartbreaking at times, hence Allah (swt) promised him ease.

He enabled the Prophet (sa) to receive the Quranic revelation. Allah (swt) developed Prophet (sa) spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally to cope with difficult situations. He was also blessed with an amazing team of the Sahabah for support. The Shariah granted was doable and accessible. Islam is Fitrah friendly hence compatible to our needs. The path to Jannah, our final, perfect and permanent home was made easy.

Muhammad (sa) also commanded His Ummah to teach Deen with ease. A believer never poses hardships for anyone. When given two Halal choices, Prophet (sa) always opted for the easy path and commanded us to do the same.  It’s a great motivational strategy.    

In the ninth verse, the word ‘Zikra’ is used, to strive to give advice. The Prophet (sa) should simply give Naseeha, to individuals or groups, etc.

Allah (swt) commands Prophet Muhammad (sa) to not just focus on memorizing the Quran but give Naseeha to the Kuffaar.  The verse is a rhetorical statement. Certainly the advice will benefit the disbelievers. Or maybe the guidance from the Quran might benefit them. Allah (swt) ultimately knows, decides and plans Naseeha for others. We cannot judge others or forecast.

This was also a huge relief for the Prophet (sa) that he should not worry who his audience is. He mustn’t grieve if the advice is working or not. He should strive to share it with others and apply it to himself and become the best beneficiary of it.

Sometimes the disbelievers would listen to the Prophet’s (sa) message but turn and leave. That didn’t discourage the messenger (sa). Complete and beneficial Naseeha is one that is well received and acted upon.   

The tenth verse highlights the ones with a blessed fortune. Those who remember Naseeha are the ones who fear Allah (swt) due to His Power, Control and Majesty. Sometimes Naseeha is scary too. But ultimately it benefits us as it motivates us to the right action. Fear is considered to be one of the greatest motivating factors of true success.

The eleventh verse mentions the ill fated and wretched ones who turn away from Naseeha. He is someone who has deliberately developed a lifestyle that doesn’t expose him to guidance. He won’t let it penetrate his diseased heart to treat it to wellness. He willingly rejects Naseeha and goes against his natural Fitrah. Eventually his heart becomes dysfunctional to receive guidance.     

Allah (swt) warns him in the twelfth and thirteenth verses, how Allah’s (swt) plan is to burn a disbeliever in a huge fire. The rejecter of truth will neither be able to live nor die to end the pain. It is the worst imaginable state any soul can face.

Next we are introduced to the parameters of true success. Allah (swt) confirms and assures in the fourteenth verse that he who purifies himself through Tazkiyah (purification of the soul) has certainly succeeded.

The word ‘Fallah’ denotes a farmer. Our worldly life is like a field where everyday we are planting deeds. The fruit of this harvest will be reaped in the hereafter. If we mindfully plant, care for and protect our crops through acquiring Quran and Sunnah’s knowledge, acting upon it and evaluating ourselves daily through the lens of Tazkiya, believers will find their garden of deeds in paradise bi izn Allah.

Tazkiya is the foundation of each action. When we cleanse our Nafs (self) from negative and evil intentions, thoughts and self-chat, only then the light of guidance shines. We find sweetness in Dhikr and Ibadah.

How can one perform Tazkiya?

1. Empty out your heart of envy, anger, arrogance and desires.
2. Fill your heart with Akhlaaq, Adaab, Taqwa, Yaqueen, Tawakkul, Shukr, Sabr and Sajdah before divine decrees in your life that Allah (swt) have chosen.
3. Now you are truly adorned as a believer and will automatically radiate glow and beauty of character to others without pretense. It will become second nature and the real you.         

In the fifteenth verse, Allah (sw) describes the habits and speech of His true believers. They don’t indulge in blowing their trumpets or praising others. Instead as a slave they regularly mention their Lord. They are conscious of their servitude hence they engage in Dhikr. Making Tasbeeh is their informal means of Dhikr and offering Salah is their formal way of Dhikr.

From the sixteenth verse onwards Allah (swt) addresses in second person, directly to us as the believers. He states that you prefer the worldly life. Dunya comes from the word ‘Adna.’ It means something that is inferior in value, temporary in nature but closer to us as we can witness it and experience it.

Aakhirah comes from the word ‘Khair’. It is higher in value, permanent in nature, seems far and distant and nobody ever had a virtual tour of it. Neither has anyone seen it in person. All that we know about it is through beautiful descriptions in the divine scripture, being the Quran and the Sunnah. But we believe that Allah’s (swt) promise is always true. Hence Aakhirah is superior to Dunya.

Our souls have been created as permanent beings that seek permanence in everything. We will never be satiated by Dunya and will have to wait and perform well now to enter our perfect abodes in paradise by Allah’s (swt) mercy.

Allah (swt) is the Creator of both and declares that Aakhirah is better between the two. But we are world stricken and keep yearning for instant gratification.   

Lastly Allah (swt) states that His decree and standards never alter. Its not like the trends of the social media or logic driven scientific researches that keep changing with new discoveries. Allah (swt) is Al Aleem, His knowledge is His own and not acquired from anywhere. His knowledge is absolute and perfect. His knowledge is based on wisdom and He has complete authority to exercise His commands.

Hence His divine guidance has been constant, continuous and regular in every stage of human history. His teachings were the same for the Quraish stated earlier through Prophet Ibrahim (as) and for the Jews through Prophet Musa (as).        

(Partially adapted from a course titled ‘In depth study of Juzz 30’ taught by Safiya Khan).