al-ʿĀlamīn is interpreted in five ways:
1. By al-ʿĀlamīn, specifically humans and jinn are meant; as in the following verses:
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the ʿālamīn {that is, humans and jinn}. (al-Fātiḥa 1:2)
So that he may be a warner to the ʿālamīn {that is, to humans and jinn}... (al-Furqān 25:1)
It is nothing but a reminder to the ʿālamīn {that is, humans and jinn}. (al-Takwīr 81:27)
A similar instance is also found in Sūrat Ṣād.
2. By the term al-ʿĀlamīn, the peoples [humans] of their own time are meant; as in the following verses:
O Children of Israel! Remember My favor which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the ʿālamīn {that is, the peoples [humans] of your own time}. (al-Baqara 2:47)
And We certainly chose them knowingly above the ʿālamīn {that is, the peoples [humans] of their own time}. (al-Dukhān 44:32)
We favored them {that is, the Children of Israel} above the ʿālamīn {that is, the peoples [humans] of their own time}. (al-Jāthiya 45:16)
A similar instance is again found in the same surah.
3. By al-ʿĀlamīn, all humans of the same kind from Adam until the Resurrection are meant; as in the following verses:
Indeed, {O Mary}, Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the ʿālamīn (that is, above all women from Adam onward). (Āl ʿImrān 3:42)
To the land which We had blessed for the ʿālamīn (that is, for all people from Adam until the Resurrection)... (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:71)
4. By the word al-ʿĀlamīn, those after Noah are meant; as in the following verse:
Peace be upon Noah among the ʿālamīn (that is, among the people after Noah) (al-Ṣāffāt 37:79)
With this, the beautiful praises that would be offered to him by people after Noah are intended.
5. By al-ʿĀlamīn, the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitāb) are meant; as in the following verse:
Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all people who are able to find a way to it. But whoever disbelieves—then indeed, Allah is free from need of the ʿālamīn (that is, of the People of the Book—for they did not consider the pilgrimage obligatory). (Āl ʿImrān 3:97)