Say Allahu Akbar and Throw the World Behind You
Did you ever think: why do we start our prayer with “Allahu Akbar” not with “Subhan Allah”? Realize that when you say “Allahu Akbar” you affirm that the one before whom you are about to stand is greater than anything occupying you at that moment — greater than your sleep, your families, your bills, and your worries. Just imagine that when you say “Allahu Akbar” while raising your hands you are throwing all of that behind you!
Never Ending Support
We are truly in great need of continuous good and the removal of hardships through a strong relationship with our Creator that makes life flow easily, peacefully, and blessedly.
Salah guarantees all this to a believer.
Along each day’s route, Islam designated five gracious pauses for Allah, distributed at specific times throughout the day, during which humankind is directed to meet their Lord, open their hearts, and speak their minds to Him, starting by praising Him and acknowledging His Grandeur, followed by requesting His Blessings and the averting of evils, asking for His Help and seeking His Contentment, and shoring up their deficient knowledge with His Perfect Knowledge and their inadequate power with His Supreme Power.
In a Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Saying in which Almighty Allah Himself is speaking), Allah says:
“I have divided Salah between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he asks for. When the servant says, (Praise be to Allah, the Lord of existence) [Al-Fatihah 1:2], Allah says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’ When he says, (The All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful) [Al-Fatihah 1:3], Allah says, ‘My servant has extolled Me.’ When he says, (The Owner (Master) of the Day of Judgment) [Al-Fatihah 1:4], Allah says, ‘My servant has glorified Me.’ When he says, (You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help (for each and everything) [Al-Fatihah 1:5], Allah says, The is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. When he says, (Guide us to the Straight Path, the Path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not the path of those who have incurred Your Anger, nor of those who have gone astray) [Al-Fatihah 1:6-7], Allah says, is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.’”
(Narrated by Muslim)
Think for a Minute
When we pray, think for a minute how small we are in this immense universe which Allah (the Exalted) created, like a drop of water in a big ocean. We are really nothing in size and in time, so when we say “Allahu Akbar” to start Salah, indeed He is Al-Kabir (the Great, the Supreme), and when we say “Subhana Rabbiyal `Azim,” indeed He is Al-Azim (the Great, the Magnificent, the Glorious).
To remember these meanings can help us focus more in our prayer and benefit more from our Salah such that when we end with Taslim, we find tranquillity and peace in our hearts has grown, and the reminder that this world is only a transition – not the final destination – helps us refocus on the Hereafter, which is the eternal abode of peace for believers whom Allah will reward. Tarek Ezzat
