What is Really Greater in Your Life?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah Almighty says,

ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَلْـَٔاخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَـٰتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلًا ﴿٢١

Look how We have favored [in provision] some of them over others. But the Hereafter is greater in degrees [of difference] and greater in distinction. (21)

[Qur'an, Al-Isra' 17:21]

The poorest in this world can be the richest in the Hereafter; it all depends on one thing: your rank with Allah.

Allah calls Himself Al-Kabeer on six occasions in the Qur'an. Al-Kabeer embraces all kinds of greatness, from rank, size, nobility, and knowledge to mercy, and it tells us that nothing was, is, or will ever be like Him.

Allah commands us:

وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ ﴿٣

And magnify Your Lord. (3)

[Qur'an, Al-Muddathir 74:3].

So, glorify Him alone and be humble in life in order to be great in the sight of Al-Kabeer.

Words to magnify Al-Kabeer, like the tahleel (laa ilaaha illAllah) tahmeed (Alhamdulillah), tasbeeh (subhanAllah) and takbeer (Allahu akbar), have great meanings; ponder their true meanings, increase in saying them and be careful not to misuse them.

Say a lot of takbeer — Allahu Akbar, in these first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijjah from your heart. Feel the takbeer.

Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with both father and son) narrates that a man came late to prayer. Upon arriving to the line he started his prayer with the following words, Allāhu Akbaru Kabīran wal-hamdulillahi kathīran wa subhān Allahi bukratan wa asīlā. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace), after completing the prayer, asked the people who had said this. The man said, O Rasūlullah, I did not intend by it other than good. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, I saw the gates of heaven open because of those words. Ibn ‘Umar added, I never ceased saying these words since hearing the Prophet say that. [Muslim, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa’i & Ahmad]

What is really akbar (greater) in your life?

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam taught us to say Allahu akbar at the start and during your whole prayer. Whenever you say, or hear, Allahu Akbar in prayer or the adhaan (call to Prayer), know what it really means. Know that Allah is far greater than anything that you could ever imagine or think of. When you raise your hands to start your prayer, imagine you’re throwing the whole world behind you and all is about Allahu akbar.

Guard yourself against arrogance (kibr). Never look down on others; you don’t know the rank they have with Al-Kabeer.

Arrogance can also be found in how you deal with the commands of Allah. Look at the sin of Iblis and where he is going to wind up -- he refused to bow down due to arrogance.

If Allah Al-Kabeer blessed you with being kabeer in this world in knowledge, position, skills, etc, make others benefit and truly become kabeer to Him in the Hereafter.

May Allah enable us to magnify Him and protect us from arrogance, and make us of those who attain the highest ranks with Him in the highest Paradise without reckoning. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam