The elevation of a servant, no matter how high, is deficient, which befits human imperfection, GI

His Eminence, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, Al-Azhar Grand Imam and MCE Chairman explained that Al-Aliy is one of Allah’s Most Beautiful Names, which is mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah and acknowledged unanimously by Muslims. He added that it is derived from ‘Ulwu (height and elevation). He explained that an elevation may be a physical, corporeal elevation, or an incorporeal/metaphysical. The latter is an elevation in terms of honor and status.

During the 16th episode of his Ramadan TV program Imam Al-Tayyeb Talk, His Eminence explained that all Sunnis, acknowledging this Divine Name, affirm to the Almighty the high status and not the high place. He pointed out that scholars maintain that some divine attributes should be interpreted metaphorically, in spite of their literal meaning, which is not intended, in a way that conforms to the verse stating that there is nothing like Him. For example, we interpret the “Eyes” in, “for you are truly under Our (watchful) Eyes” as “knowledge,” meaning that Allah Almighty knows it, and such interpretation of the eye as denoting knowledge, watchfulness, and observation is acceptable in the Arabic language. Likewise, the “hand” is interpreted as “power” in the verse that reads, “Allah’s Hand is above theirs”. It means Allah’s Power transcends theirs.

The Grand Imam affirmed that one should always know that human elevation is incomplete, which befits human imperfection. In terms of transcendence, humans cannot compare themselves to their Lord. Allah bestowed transcendence upon Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), though his transcendence was higher than that of other humans and yet much lower than that of the Most High.