Allahu Akbar – Allah is Greater

Source: Al-Istiqaamah, Issue No.4 – November 1996

Allah – the Most High – says:

“Allah will not call you to account for thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts; and He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:225)

“The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, But only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart;” (Surah Al Shu’ara’ 26:88-89)

The Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said.

“Indeed, there is a piece of flesh in the body; if it is sound then all the body is sound. However, if it is diseased, then all the body is diseased Truly that is the heart.” [Related by al-Bukhari (1/126) and Muslim (no. 1599) from an-Nu’maan ibn Basheer radiAllahu ‘anhumaa.]

Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab (d.795H) – rahimahullaah – said:

“So know that the world – and whatever is above it and below it in the water- will not be corrected except when the actions of its people ore all for Allah. The actions of the body follow on from the actions and intentions of the heart. So when the actions and intentions of the heart ore purely for Allah alone, then it is corrected, and likewise the actions of the body will also be correct. However, if the actions and intentions of the heart ore for other than Allah, then it is corrupted, and likewise the actions of the body will be corrupted in proportion to how much the heart is corrupted.” [Jaami’ al-‘Uloom wal-Hikam (p120)]

And he said: “Hearts will not be corrected until the ma’rifah (knowledge and realisation) of Allah – being in awe of His greatness, loving Him, fearing Him, hoping in Him, relying and trusting in Him – is not firmly implanted in them. This is the reality of Tawheed and the meaning of the saying: Laa ilaaha illAllah (that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah). Thus, hearts will not be corrected until Allah is made the ilaah (deity) to be known, to be loved, feared and hoped in, and that He – along with this – becomes the only ilaah (deity) worthy of this, without associating any partner to Him in this.” [Jaami’ al-‘Uloom wal-Hikam (p.120)]

Indeed, we may begin to appreciate the greatness of Allah – the Most High’s – and being in owe of Him, by considering some narrations regarding what He – the Most High – has created.

The Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

“Indeed I see what you do not see and hear what you do not hear. Heaven has groaned, and it has a right to do so. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! There is not in the heaven a space equivalent to four fingers, except than an angel has prostrated his forehead to Allah in it. By Allah! If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep a lot, and you would not take delight in women in their beds, but rather would go to the wilderness and implore Allah for help.” [Hasan: Related by Ibn Maajah (no.4190) and at-Tirmidhee (2/51),who authenticated it, from Abu Dharr radiAllahu ‘anhu.]

He sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

“The seven Heavens compared to the Kursee (the Chair) is like a ring which is thrown into a desert. And such is the magnitude of the ‘Arsh (the Throne of Allah) compared with the Kursee.” [Saheeh: Related by Ibn Abee Shaybah in Kitaabul-‘Arsh (1/114) and al-Bayhaqee in as-Asmaa was-Sifaat (p 290), from Abu Dharr radiAllahu ‘anhu.]

He sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said:

“I have been given permission to relate to you about the Angels of Allah – the Most High – that carry the ‘Arsh (Throne). Between one of the Angel’s ear and shoulder is a distance of seven hundred year journey.” [Saheeh: Related by Abu Daawood (no.4727) and al-Bayhaqee in as-Asmaa was-Sifaat, (no.398), from Jaabir radiAllahu ‘anhu. It was authenticated by Imaam adh-Dhahobee in al-‘Uluww (p.58).]

And he sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said:

“Al-Baytul-Mamoor is in the seventh heaven [directly above the Kaaba]. Each day seventy thousand angels enter it, and they will not return until the Day of Resurrection.” [Saheeh: Related by Ahmad (3/153), from Anas radiAllahu ‘anhu. And the addition is related by Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree in his Tafseer (11/27). The hadeeth was authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no.477).]

So: “The need of the servants for this (type of) knowledge is greater then every other need; end it is the most necessary of all things for them, since there is no life for the hearts, nor any delight, nor any tranquility, except through knowing their Lord, the only One Who deserves to be worshiped, their Creator – with His Homes, His Attributes and His Actions, and that He – along with all that – is more beloved to the person than anything else. So man’s striving is with regards to everything that will draw him nearer to Allah, to the exclusion of the creation… So the people who know Allah the best, are the ones who best follow the way to Him; and know best whet lies at the end of the way.” [Sharhul-‘Aqeedatit-Taahawiyyah (p.27) of Imaam Ibn Abil-‘lzz.]