Greatness of Allah SWT
Todays reminder is about knowing the greatness of Allah SWT.
Dear brothers and sisters, to glorify Allah SWT is of great benefit to us, in both this life and the next.
However, what does it meant to glorify Allah SWT. Firstly, we know of this word as we’ve heard it before in translations but other than the context of Islam, this word is seldom used.
Let’s first look at the definition of the word in order to give it some depth. To glorify is to give praise to, to worship, to revere, to honour, to adore or give thanks to. It is to boost, lift and to elevate, both in front of others and within oneself.
So to glorify Allah SWT is beneficial to us in the next life but it also provides us with tranquillity in this life.
It gives us tranquillity as we are indirectly putting our faith in Allah SWT. We are assigning our trust to our Lord. This, in turn, puts our hearts at rest and gives us peace.
Allah SWT speaks of glorification in the Quran and is referenced by the imam today in via Sura Al-Isra, ayat 44 which is translated to say:
The seven heavens extol His limitless glory, and the earth, and all that they contain; and there is not a single thing but extols His limitless glory and praise: but you [O men] fail to grasp the manner of their glorifying Him! Verily, He is forbearing, much-forgiving!
Dear brothers and sisters, the ayat is telling us that His creation is glorifying Allah SWT but mankind is failing to comprehend this. It is a warning to us that we are at risk of being ungrateful to our Lord.
So it is one thing knowing the greatness of Allah SWT and knowing to glorify Allah SWT but how does one practically implement this into their everyday lives?
This reminder concludes with 2 ways in which we can demonstrate to Allah SWT that we recognise his greatness which will, in turn, lead to us glorifying our Lord.
The first way in which we are able to recognize the greatness of our Lord is to look around us. It is by observing His creation.
Dear brothers and sisters, one of the greatest tricks of Shaytan is to convince us that we do not have time. We don’t have time to pray with reflection, we don’t have time to read Quran, we don’t have time to increase our knowledge of our faith and we don’t have enough time to see Allah SWT through His creation.
For some of us, we once had this within us. Maybe it was in our youth before the responsibilities of work, family and money overtook us. These days, we complain there is not enough hours in the day to sleep, let alone to see the greatness in creation.
However, this is a trick that is played upon us by Shaytaan. Reason being is that it is not the time that we are lacking, it’s the skill of observation. For example, we may be stuck in traffic late on our way to work. Our minds are consumed with what our boss might say if we are late. We miss the opportunity to observe the clouds in the sky blocking the sun from our eyes or the trees that line the road, providing nourishment and shelter to us birds and small animals.
It is not time that we lack, it’s the mindset to recognise that even in the busiest of days, Allah SWT is still showing us His beauty in nature, in wildlife, in weather and in people. We need to recognize His greatness in the miracles within our own lives. The children we have, the life we live, the spouses we have. We need to kick start our recognition of this by uttering His praises often and over the smallest of observations. “Alhamdullilah” ought to be on our tongues or in our minds often in the course of the day.
The second way in which we can practically recognize His greatness is through contemplation of the Glorious Quran.
The imam referenced the 88th ayat of Sura Al-Isra in relation to this point which says:
Say, “If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other, assistants.
Dear brothers and sisters, the ayat is telling us the magnificence of this book. Even non-Muslims recognize this book as being unlike any other. We need to harness the blessing that is the Quran and make the most of this gift.
By studying the Quran, you are guaranteed to embark upon a pastime that will never be complete. Even the most ardent of scholars of this book declare that they are students of the Quran. In other words, the lessons from this book are more than a lifetime can complete.
For those who are not accustomed to this practically, we live in a time and a place where information is at our fingertips. Use technology to your soul’s advantage and make the most of the online websites dedicated to the explanation or tafsirs of the Quran.
These days there are even mobile apps available that can provide each and every one of us with lessons on this magnificent blessing so there is no excuse in not making the most of the opportunity given.
Dear brothers and sisters, we live in a time and a place in which the world can cause our hearts to strain. By glorifying our Lord, not only are we fulfilling an obligation placed on us by our Creator but we are also providing ourselves with the means to have a heart that is tranquil, a mind that is at peace and a life that is full of sincere gratitude to Allah SWT.
