سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا 43
Translations
Exalted is He and high above what they say by great sublimity.
Transliteration
Subhanahu wa ta'ala 'amma yaqooloon 'uluwwan kabeeran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is an affirmation of Allah's absolute transcendence and exaltation far above the false claims and blasphemies of the disbelievers who denied the Oneness of Allah and attributed partners to Him. Ibn Kathir explains that 'uluwwan kabeeran (a tremendous elevation) signifies that Allah's greatness and perfection are immeasurably beyond what the disbelievers attributed to Him, whether their denial of His attributes or their polytheistic assertions. The phrase emphasizes both Allah's purity from all imperfections and His supremacy over all creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Isra, which recounts the Night Journey (Isra) and its miraculous events. The surah addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and their mocking of Islamic monotheism. Verse 43 specifically refutes their false statements and arrogant denials regarding Allah's Oneness and the resurrection, contextualizing their claims within the broader theme of the surah's defense of Islamic doctrine.
Related Hadiths
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The closest a slave gets to his Lord is during prostration, so increase your supplications during it' (Sahih Muslim 482). This relates thematically to the glorification of Allah's transcendence. Additionally, the Prophet emphasized in multiple hadiths the importance of saying 'Subhan'Allah' as mentioned in Jami' At-Tirmidhi 3585.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to firmly affirm Allah's absolute greatness and uniqueness despite the doubts and mockery of disbelievers, and to recognize that no human claim or false statement can diminish Allah's majesty or truth. For modern readers, it provides comfort that Allah's perfection remains untouched by the criticisms or denials of those who reject faith, encouraging steadfastness in belief.