Living The Quran
From Issue: 932 [Read full issue]
The Most High
Al-Ala (The Most High) - Chapter 87: Verse 1
"Glorify the Name of thy Lord, the Most High."
The Most High can be understood to modify Lord or the Name, though most prefer the former. When Most High modifies Lord, the verse is simply an injunction to glorify God. When it modifies the Name, the verse is understood to provide instruction regarding the manner in which one should glorify God, meaning that one should refrain from associating the Name of God with any other thing or that one should praise God with the Names that God has revealed. It is said that when So glorify the Name of thy Lord, the Magnificent (56: 74) was revealed, the Prophet told his Companions, "Enact it when you bow [in prayer]," and when the present verse was revealed, he said, "Enact it when you prostrate". Muslims thus say "Glory be to God, the Magnificent" three times when bowing in prayer and the formula "Glory be to God, the Most High" three times when prostrating.
Compiled From:
"The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary" - Seyyed Hossein Nasr