"High" and "low" may be applied both to tangible as well as <strong>in</strong>tangible th<strong>in</strong>gs. As regard<strong>in</strong>gthe tangible ones, the `Arsh (Throne) is said to be higher than the Kursi (the Seat <strong>of</strong>Authority), and the heavens is higher than the earth. Such words are applied only to tangibleth<strong>in</strong>gs, th<strong>in</strong>gs which have dimensions. S<strong>in</strong>ce the Almighty is above hav<strong>in</strong>g dimensions, Hisbe<strong>in</strong>g al-`Aliyy is above be<strong>in</strong>g as such.<strong>The</strong> One Who is al-`Aliyy is above be<strong>in</strong>g conceived by any <strong>in</strong>tellect, and Whose Attributesare too great to be described. He is the One <strong>in</strong> Whose Greatness m<strong>in</strong>ds are puzzled, and <strong>in</strong>try<strong>in</strong>g to realize His Essence the <strong>in</strong>tellects fall short.Among the good manners adorn<strong>in</strong>g a believer are: humbleness and submissiveness before theGlory <strong>of</strong> the Almighty. It is only then that He exalts his status. Al-Qushayri has reportedsay<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>Allah</strong> <strong>in</strong>spired Moses to go near a mounta<strong>in</strong> so that He would address him. Everymounta<strong>in</strong> there vied with the others <strong>in</strong> the hope <strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g the one near which such a div<strong>in</strong>eaddress would take place. Mount S<strong>in</strong>ai thought very humbly <strong>of</strong> itself say<strong>in</strong>g, "S<strong>in</strong>ce when do Ideserve the honour <strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g the site worthy <strong>of</strong> the status <strong>of</strong> Moses when addressed by hisLord?" For this reason, <strong>Allah</strong> <strong>in</strong>spired Moses to go near Mount S<strong>in</strong>ai due to the latter'shumility.Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Al-Asma' wal sifat, where a qudsi tradition is quoted, the Messenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong>heard dur<strong>in</strong>g the Night <strong>of</strong> Isra (the night journey to Jerusalem) a prais<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the high heavenssay<strong>in</strong>g: Subhan al-`Aliyy al-A`la, Subnahu wa Ta`ala, that is, "Glory to the Most High, Gloryto Him and Exaltation." Iyas ibn Salmah has quoted his father say<strong>in</strong>g that he had heard theMessenger <strong>of</strong> <strong>Allah</strong> start<strong>in</strong>g every supplication by say<strong>in</strong>g, "Subhana al-A`la al-Wahhab,""Glory to the Most High, the ever-Giv<strong>in</strong>g."38. "Al-Kabeer"We read the follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the Holy Qura'n: "<strong>The</strong>y shall say: What is it that your Lord said?<strong>The</strong>y shall say: <strong>The</strong> truth. And He is the Most High, the Great" (Qura'n, 34:23).L<strong>in</strong>guistically, one who is kabeer is a great person, a dignitary, a dist<strong>in</strong>guished personality.<strong>Allah</strong>, Glorified and Exalted is His Name, is greater than everyth<strong>in</strong>g and everyone, and He isthe Absolutely Great One, the One Who is Great on His own merits, <strong>in</strong> His qualities andEssence, above be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> any way like any <strong>of</strong> His creatures; "<strong>The</strong>re is noth<strong>in</strong>g like Him," theOne Who is superior to the praise <strong>of</strong> any <strong>of</strong> those who praise, glorify, or attempt to describeHim. He is the most perfect <strong>of</strong> anyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> existence, the One Who has all the Glory, theGreatness, the Honour and the Sublimity. He is above what the be<strong>in</strong>gs He has createdconceive Him to be. He is too Great to be described or His actions to be comprehended. <strong>The</strong>Almighty has said,He is the High, the Great. (40:12)Proclaim His greatness magnify<strong>in</strong>g (Him). (17:111) And
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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AllahThe Concept of God in Islam (a
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IntroductionIn any theistic religio
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eminded him of the bloody and shame
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Knowing AllahMuhammed, the Messenge
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All Praise is due to Allah, the One
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The Praised One has said, He is the
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you then made you complete, then He
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The Ninety Nine Attributesof AllahI
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The Almighty is Endless regarding H
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produce it. They will also realize
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Who grants mercy beyond which there
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Unity of Allah (Tawhid)Islam falls
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is Allah, your Lord; so, worship Hi
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keep closing their eyes to the fact
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Abu Abdullah Imam Ja`fer al-Sadiq h
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descends during the night of the mi
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and the Exalted One, whereby He des
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perfected their design and computed
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[14] Ibid., p. 59.[15] al-Tusi, Al-
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How to Supplicate to AllahBefore ad
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His creation, and the norms of His
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perfection of the Self. All qualiti
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eminding those whom He forgives of
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"Wait, therefore; surely they (too)
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The Messenger of Allah used to say,
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taken account in a clear Book. (36:
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ing the dead to life, and He shows
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Al-Mumeet causes your heart to die
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thoroughly" (Qura'n, 27:88).The roo