The Higher Assembly

Al-Mala' al-A'la are the angels brought near in the highest heavens; God named them "al-Mala' al-A'la" in the Qur'an As-Saffat 8, Sad 69, and Sad 70. They are the ones who heard Iblis when they prostrated to Adam, and they are the ones who glorify with praise of their Lord ^{1 2}.

• As-Saffat 8: "O you assembly of the highest" — and in it God's address to the angels ¹.
• Sad 69 and Sad 70: the dialogue of Iblis with al-Mala' al-A'la when Adam was created, and in them "Indeed we, we glorify You with praise" and "What is there for us that we should not prostrate to Adam" ¹.
• Ar-Rahman 72 and Ar-Rahman 73 in the description of glorification in the heavens — and in them "Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Might, above what they describe" and "And peace upon the messengers, and praise be to God, Lord of the worlds" ¹.
• As-Saffat 150 and As-Saffat 151 in the context of al-Mala' al-A'la ¹.

• In the Sunan of al-Tirmidhi from Abu Hurayra (may God be pleased with him) is the hadith "God says..." and in it that the people of al-Mala' al-A'la are the angels in the highest heavens ³.
• In a hadith that "the people of al-Mala' al-A'la" circumambulate the Frequented House, seventy thousand who do not return ^{4 5}.
• In a narration that al-Mala' al-A'la are those who glorify God in the highest heavens and possess neither harm nor benefit ⁵.

Ibn Kathir interprets "al-Mala' al-A'la" as the angels brought near in the highest heavens, and mentions that they were in a council with God when Adam was created, and that they prostrated to him and Iblis refused ². And al-Qurtubi held that they are the angels who heard Iblis in Sad 69 ⁶.

• They are the angels in the highest heavens, the ones entrusted with God's great matters ².
• They glorify with praise of their Lord and seek forgiveness for the believers ¹.
• Among them are the Throne-bearers, the Noble Recorders, and of them are messengers ².

• "Al-Mala' al-A'la" is a Qur'anic name in As-Saffat 8 and Sad 69, and the intended ones are the angels brought near ².
• And in tafsir "al-mala'" is the plural of "mala'" meaning the group, and "al-a'la" meaning the highest in place in the heavens ⁶.
• Their companions in the council are the Throne-bearers on the Throne-bearers page.