Meaning & Explanation
Al-Muta'ali is the One who is supremely exalted above all creation. He is high above any imperfection, comparison, or limitation. His exaltation is absolute - above place, above time, above any description that creation can conceive.
Quran References
1 versesContext: Describing Allah's supreme exaltation
عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ
“Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Grand, the Most Exalted”
Exemplifying Story
hadithAbove the Throne
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari
The Prophet ﷺ described: "When Allah created creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him above the Throne: 'My mercy prevails over My wrath.'" This hadith shows that Al-Muta'ali is exalted above His creation - the Throne is the greatest of created things, and Allah is above it. The angels who carry the Throne glorify Him constantly, yet He remains exalted above even the greatest of angels. His exaltation is not limited by direction, for He is beyond all physical constraints, yet He describes His position as "above" to indicate His supreme majesty.
Al-Muta'ali is exalted beyond comprehension. He is above all creation, yet closer to us than our jugular vein. Understanding His exaltation leads to true glorification.