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The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said: “No one likes praise more than Allah does, and for this He promised Paradise.” [Narrated by Muslim] Another narration reads: “No one likes praise more than Allah does; that is why He praised Himself.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
Al-Aswad ibn Sarī‘ reported: “I was a poet and I went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘Shall I recite to you some praises that I have written for my Lord?’
He said: ‘Your Lord loves praises.’ And he said nothing more.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri in Al-Adab al-Mufrad] [Hasan (sound)]
No matter how much we praise You, Your greatness is far bigger.
Our glorification of Allah does not benefit Him, nor does our failure to do so ever harm Him. Indeed, He is Self-Sufficient and Praiseworthy by His very attributes, not due to praise, glorification, or gratitude on the part of His servants.
It is out of Allah’s bounty towards us that He made our lives go right when we extend thanks and praise to Him, so that our souls can be purified and reassured in the company of the Almighty Creator.
These letters and this book are part of our glorification of Allah Almighty, which is a favor He has bestowed upon us. I implore Him to accept this from all of us and keep it in store for us when we meet Him on the Day of Judgment.
All praise is due to You and all blessings come from You and the dominion belongs to You. None is more glorious than You.
Allah Almighty says: {...He is Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.} [Surat Hūd: 73]
“Al-Majīd” is derived from “majd”, which means complete honor, plenty, and abundance.
Our Lord, Exalted be He, possesses vast bounty and perfect glory. What could possibly be more glorious than Him?!
He is the Owner of glory, pride, majesty, and magnificence. He is Greater, more Majestic, more Exalted, and Higher than everything.
Every attribute of our Lord is perfect in every way. He is the All-Knowing, Whose knowledge is complete. He is the Most Merciful, Whose mercy encompasses all things. He is the Omnipotent, Whose power dominates everything. He is the Forbearing, Whose forbearance is complete. And He is the All-Wise, Whose wisdom is perfect.
All His names and attributes are perfect. Indeed, we cannot praise Him enough. He is as He has praised Himself.
Allah Almighty glorified Himself for His perfection, majesty, and magnificence. In a Qudsi Hadīth, He said: “I am the Compeller, I am the Supreme, I am the King, I am the Exalted; glorifying Himself.” [Narrated by Ahmad; Sahīh (authentic)]
Our Lord is Praiseworthy for His greatness and glory: {...He is Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.} [Surat Hūd: 73]
He bestows a lot of blessings and favors upon His servants, and He endows His pious servants with the blessing of worshiping and glorifying Him alone.
In a Qudsi Hadīth: “When he says: {Master of the Day of Judgment}, He says: ‘My servant has glorified Me.’” [Narrated by Muslim] It is authentically reported that when the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) raised his head from bowing, he would say: “Rabbana laka al-hamdu mil’a as-samāwāti wa al-ard wa mil’a ma shi’ta min shay’in ba‘d, ahla ath-thanā’ wa al-majd (Praise be to You, our Lord, as much as what fills the heavens and the earth and what fills anything You will beyond that. You are the One worthy of being praised and glorified).” [Narrated by Muslim]
From His glory all messengers and prophets derive their glory. Hence, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him): “We know how to greet you, but how can we invoke Allah’s peace upon you?”
He said: “Allāhumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala āli Muhammad kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrāhim wa ‘ala āli Ibrāhim innaka hamīdun majīd (O Allah, send Your peace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your peace upon Abraham and the family of Abraham; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious).” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
The Qur’an is the word of Allah. It is {...a glorious Qur’an} [Surat al-Burūj: 21], and it is noble, great, and gracious, and it abounds with goodness.
Allah Almighty glorifies Himself in His glorious Qur’an. The greatest verses therein are those that contain praise of Him and mention of His attributes. Examples include the Verse of Al-Kursi in Surat al-Baqarah, and it is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah, and Surat al-Ikhlās, which is the best surah and so meritorious to the extent that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said about it: “It is equal to one third of the Qur’an.” [Narrated by Muslim]
One of the best methods by which a person can glorify and extol his Lord is to recite His Book day and night and to hold onto it and ponder, understand, and act upon it.
The people of the Qur’an are also the people of Allah who are close to Him. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said: “Indeed, Allah elevates some people with this Book and degrades others.” [Narrated by Muslim]
‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb met Nāfi‘ ibn al-Hārith - whom he had appointed as a governor of Makkah - in ‘Asfān. He asked him: “Whom have you appointed to govern the people of the valley?” He said: “Ibn Abza.” He said: “Who is Ibn Abza?” He said: “He is one of our freed slaves.” He remarked: “So you have appointed a freed slave over them.” He said: “He is a good reciter of the Book of Allah and knowledgeable about the laws of inheritance.”
Thereupon, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Our Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Indeed, Allah elevates some people with this Book and degrades others.’” [Narrated by Muslim]
So, glory is the share of those who adopt it and act upon it; yet those who turn away from it get nothing but humiliation.
Among the ways of glorifying Allah Almighty is to praise Him and proclaim His greatness and oneness. Whoever sticks to that shall win the good fortune in this world and in the Hereafter.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah has some angels who wander around the roads and paths looking for the people of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah). When they find some people remembering Allah, they call each other saying: ‘Come to the object of your pursuit.’ Then, the angels encircle them with their wings up to the lowest heaven.
Their Lord asks them - though He knows better than them -: ‘What do My servants say?’ The angels reply: ‘They exalt You, proclaim Your greatness, praise You, and glorify You.’
Allah then says: ‘Did they see Me?’ The angels reply: ‘No, by Allah, they did not see You.’
Allah says: ‘What if they saw Me?’ The angels reply: ‘If they saw You, they would worship You more devoutly and would exalt, glorify, and praise You more.’
Allah says: ‘What do they ask Me for?’ The angels reply: ‘They ask You for Paradise.’
Allah says: ‘Did they see it?’ The angels say: ‘No, by Allah, O Lord, they did not see it.’
Allah says: ‘What if they saw it?’ The angels say: ‘If they saw it, they would be more eager for it, would seek it with greater zeal, and would have a greater desire for it.’
Allah says: ‘From what do they seek refuge?’ The angels reply: ‘They seek refuge from Hellfire.’
Allah says: ‘Did they see it?’ The angels say: ‘No, by Allah, O Lord, they did not see it.’
Allah says: ‘What if they saw it?’ The angels say: ‘If they saw it, they would be more keen to turn away from it and more fearful of it.’
Thereupon, Allah says: ‘I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them.’
One of the angels will say: ‘There was so-and-so amongst them, and he was not one of them, but he had just come for some need.’
Allah will say: ‘These are the people by virtue of whom their companion will not be miserable.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
If their companion will not become miserable, then what about the people engaged in Dhikr themselves?!
Allah Almighty describes the Throne above which He established Himself as “glorious”. Our Lord only chooses for Himself what is best, most perfect, and most complete. Hence, it is deservedly glorious.
All praise is due to You and all blessings and the dominion belong to You, our Lord.
None is ever more glorious than You.
You are Dominant over the Throne high above the heavens.
All faces fall prostrate and are humble before Your might.
Glory be to the One Whose servants do not appraise Him properly,
the One and Only God, Who is above the Throne.
O Allah, we ask You by Your name “Al-Majīd” to forgive us, our parents, and all Muslims.