Iqra

Learn the Qur’an, one ayah at a time.

33 of 99

الْعَظِيمُ

Al 'Azeem

The Maginificent

Scroll on for a reflection, and where you’ll meet it

Reflection

ʿAẓīm is great — and the same three letters give ʿaẓm, bone, the hard thing a body is built around. Greatness in this root has structure in it rather than mere size.

All 36 ayat carrying this written form end on the word, and most are not naming Allah with it: thirteen call something else great — al-fawz al-ʿaẓīm, the great winning — three describe the Throne, and several the abundance of a favour. Only twice does al-ʿAliyy come before it, and one of those is the close of the Throne Ayah. Some things are not larger versions of small things.

Where you’ll meet it

A few of the ayat where this name’s written form appears.