Surah 87. Al-Ala

We will have you recite 'the Quran, O Prophet,' so you will not forget 'any of it',

  - Mustafa Khattab

By degrees shall We teach thee to declare (the Message) so thou shalt not forget ^{6084 6085}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The soul, as it reaches the Light of Allah, makes gradual progress, like a man going from darkness into light. So the Qur-an was revealed by stages. So all revelation from Allah comes by stages. As usual, there are two parallel meanings: (1) that connected with the occasion of direct inspiration to the holy Prophet; and (2) the more general Message to mankind for all time. Everyone who understands the Message must declare it, in words, and still more, in his conduct.

The particular occasion was an assurance to the Prophet, that though he was unleftered, the Message given to him would be preserved in his heart and in the hearts of men. The more general sense is that mankind, having once seized great spiritual truths, will hold fast to them, except as qualified in the following verse.

unless Allah wills otherwise.¹ He surely knows what is open and what is hidden.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Meaning, We will have you memorize the revelations and apply the rulings contained in them, unless one ruling is replaced by another.

Except as Allah wills: For He knoweth what is manifest and what is hidden. ⁶⁰⁸⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There can be no question of this having any reference to the abrogation of any verses of the Qur-an. For this Sura is one of the earliest revealed, being placed about eighth according to the most accepted chronological order. While the basic principles of Allah's Law remain the same, its form, expression, and application have varied from time to time, e.g., from Moses to Jesus, and from Jesus to Muhammad. It is one of the beneficent mercies of Allah that we should forget some things of the past, lest our minds become confused and our development is retarded. Besides, Allah knows what is manifest and what is hidden, and His Will and Plan work with supreme wisdom and goodness.

We will facilitate for you the Way of Ease.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The Islamic way of life which brings about ease in this life and salvation in the next.

And We will make it easy for thee (to follow) the simple (Path). ⁶⁰⁸⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Path of Islam is simple and easy. It depends on no abstruse mysteries or self-mortifications, but on straight and manly conduct in accordance with the laws of man's nature as implanted in him by Allah (xxx. 30). On the other hand, spiritual perfection may be most difficult, for it involves complete surrender on our part to Allah in all our affairs, thoughts, and desires: but after that surrender Allah's Grace will make our path easy.

So 'always' remind 'with the Quran'- 'even' if the reminder is beneficial 'only to some'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Therefore give admonition in case the admonition profits (the hearer). ⁶⁰⁸⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is not so strong as the Biblical phrase, "Cast not pearls before swine" (Man. vii. 6). The cases where admonition does produce spiritual profit and where it does not, are mentioned below in verses 10 and 11-13 respectively. Allah's Message should be proclaimed to all: but particular and personal admonitions are also due to those who attend and in whose hearts is the fear of Allah; in the case of those who run away from it and dishonour it, such particular and personal admonition is useless. They are the unfortunate ones who prepare their own ruin.

Those in awe 'of Allah' will be mindful 'of it'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

The admonition will be received by those who fear (Allah):

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But it will be shunned by the most wretched,

  - Mustafa Khattab

But it will be avoided by those most unfortunate ones.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

who will burn in the greatest Fire,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Who will enter the Great Fire ⁶⁰⁸⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Great Fire is the final Penalty or Disaster in the Hereafter, as contrasted with the minor Penalties or Disasters from which all evil suffers from within in this very life.

where they will not 'be able to' live or die.

  - Mustafa Khattab

In which they will then neither die nor live. ⁶⁰⁹⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A terrible picture of those who ruin their whole future by evil lives here below. They introduce a discord into Creation, while life should be one great universal concord. And their past clings to them as part of their own will. They are not even like the dry swarthy stubble mentioned in verse 5 above, which grew naturally out of the luscious pasture, for they have grown harmful, in defiance of their own nature. "Neither die nor five": Cf. xx. 74.

Successful indeed are those who purify themselves,

  - Mustafa Khattab

But those will prosper who purify themselves. ^{6091 6092}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Prosper. in the highest sense; attain to Bliss or Salvation; as opposed to "enter the Fire".

The first process in godliness is to cleanse ourselves in body, mind, and soul. Then we shall be in a fit state to see and proclaim the Glory of Allah. That leads us to our actual absorption in Praise and Prayer.

remember the Name of their Lord, and pray.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And glorify the name of their Guardian-Lord and (lift their hearts) in Prayer.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But you 'deniers only' prefer the life of this world,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Nay (behold) ye prefer the life of this world;

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

even though the Hereafter is far better and more lasting.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But the Hereafter is better and more enduring.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is certainly 'mentioned' in the earlier Scriptures-

  - Mustafa Khattab

And this is in the Books of the earliest (Revelations) ⁶⁰⁹³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The law of righteousness and godliness is not a new law, nor are the vanity and short duration of this world preached here for the first time. But spiritual truths have to be renewed and reiterated again and again.

the Scriptures of Abraham and Moses.

  - Mustafa Khattab

The Books of Abraham and Moses. ^{6094 6095}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

No Book of Abraham has come down to us. But the Old Testament recognises that Abraham was a prophet (Gen. xx. 7). There is a book in Greek, which has been translated by Mr. G.H. Box, called the Testament of Abraham (published by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, London, 1927). It seems to be a Greek translation of a Hebrew original. The Greek Text was probably written in the second Christian century, in Egypt, but in its present form it probably goes back only to the 9th or 10th Century. It was popular among the Christians. Perhaps the Jewish Midrash also refers to a Testament of Abraham.

The original Revelation of Moses, of which the Present Pentateuch is a surviving recension. See Appendix 11, The present Gospels do not come under the definition of the "earliest" Books. Nor could they be called "Books of Jesus': they were written not by him, but about him, and long after his death.