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The-concept-of-Allah-in-Islam

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your Lord do magnify. (74:3). To Him belongs greatness <strong>in</strong> the heavens and the earth.(45:37)<strong>The</strong> Almighty has been lauded with characteristics <strong>of</strong> this sort:One is al-Kabeer. <strong>The</strong> other is al-Mutakabbir, the explanation <strong>of</strong> which has already beendealt with. <strong>The</strong> third is al-Akbar as <strong>in</strong> 9:72: "... and best <strong>of</strong> all is <strong>Allah</strong>'s goodlypleasure" (Qura'n, 9:72), and <strong>in</strong> 29:45: "... certa<strong>in</strong>ly the remembrance <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> is the greatest."But it has not been used <strong>in</strong> the Holy Qura'n as a reference to the Almighty, yet it occurs as anAttribute <strong>of</strong> His <strong>in</strong> the Sunnah such as our say<strong>in</strong>g: <strong>Allah</strong>u Akbar! <strong>The</strong> fourth is al-Kibriya';<strong>Allah</strong> has said, "And to Him belongs greatness..." (Qura'n, 45:37). So, let us discuss theseAttributes:As regard<strong>in</strong>g al-Akbar, there are two ways to look at it: First, He is greater than anyth<strong>in</strong>g else<strong>in</strong> existence. It is possible to view the "<strong>Allah</strong>u Akbar!" which Muslims pronounce audiblywhen say<strong>in</strong>g their prayers <strong>in</strong> the same light, mean<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>Allah</strong> is greater than anyone oranyth<strong>in</strong>g else; hence, one's m<strong>in</strong>d will not be occupied by anyone or anyth<strong>in</strong>g else besidesHim, nor is his heart attached to anyone or anyth<strong>in</strong>g else besides Him."<strong>Allah</strong>u Akbar!" is a statement derived from "al-Kabeer" and is pronounced to <strong>in</strong>itiate theobligatory prayers, dur<strong>in</strong>g the time <strong>of</strong> rukoo`, sujood or qiyam, that is, when bow<strong>in</strong>g,prostrat<strong>in</strong>g or stand<strong>in</strong>g dur<strong>in</strong>g the performance <strong>of</strong> obligatory prayers. It is called takbeer,Glorification <strong>of</strong> al-Kabeer, the Great One, the Most Great. Takbeer is required on severaloccasions such as the athan, iqama, prayers, both feasts, funeral prayers, upon see<strong>in</strong>g theKa`ba, throw<strong>in</strong>g the stones [dur<strong>in</strong>g the pilgrimage], and announc<strong>in</strong>g the time for jihad, holywar. <strong>The</strong> Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> is said to <strong>in</strong>itiate anyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> significance with "<strong>Allah</strong>u Akbar!"Ibn `Abbas is quoted say<strong>in</strong>g that the Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> used to teach his companions asupplication whereby they could shun all ailments and types <strong>of</strong> fever which said, "In theName <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> al-Kabeer; we seek refuge with <strong>Allah</strong> al-Azeem from the evil <strong>of</strong> any feverishve<strong>in</strong>, and from the <strong>in</strong>ferno <strong>of</strong> hellfire."<strong>The</strong> Attribute "al-Kabeer" is repeated five times throughout the text <strong>of</strong> the Holy Qura'n.39. "Al-Hafeez"<strong>The</strong> Almighty has said <strong>in</strong> the Holy Qura'n, "And he has no authority over them, but so thatWe may dist<strong>in</strong>guish the one who believes <strong>in</strong> the hereafter from the one who is <strong>in</strong> doubtconcern<strong>in</strong>g it, and your Lord preserves all th<strong>in</strong>gs" (Qura'n, 34:21)."Al-Hafeez" is derived from the root word if, safeguard<strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g or someone. Itsantithesis is sahu, forgetfulness, negligence, <strong>in</strong>attentiveness. Women who safeguard the

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