God is Greater

Mental Exercise

• Clear your mind, let go of all emotion and say with me, Allahuakbar.
• Say it... Allahuakbar.
• And say it again... Allahuakbar.
• No, not like - Nar-e-Takbeer-Allahuakbar-and-the-crowd-goes-wild-I'm-at-a-football-game-with-a-bunch-of-passionate-Muslims-who-love-burning-effigies.
• Say it softly... Allahuakbar.
• Let it reverberate in your throat and chest... Allahuakbar.
• Gently... Allahuakbar.
• Let everything come to your mind... Allahuakbar.
• That difficult essay for tomorrow... Allahuakbar.
• Mum's continuous questions... Allahuakbar.
• Dad's disapproval... Allahuakbar.
• That exam you think you're going to fail... Allahuakbar.
• That job rejection... Allahuakbar.
• Your ailing grandmother... Allahuakbar.
• That sense of helplessness... Allahuakbar.
• That sin committed in total privacy... Allahuakbar.
• That look you know that was too much ...Allahuakbar.
• That resentment of that person who does everything wrong but everything seems to be working for them... Allahuakbar.
• That hate of that tyrant that is killing the millions of his own people who are now starving, dying for no crime but their right for a dignified life... say it gently, softly and calmly Allahuakbar
• That feeling of hopelessness... say it with a smile, Allahuakbar.
• That love that got away... there are many fish in the sea... keep smiling, Allahuakbar.
• The sun, the moon, the stars, the day and night, the mountains, the deserts, the seas and oceans, the trees and all the creatures; from minute to ginormous,  from the weird to the most elegant... Allahuakbar.
• You and me... Allahuakbar.
• The Prophet (SAW). His life, his family, his friends, his words, his silence, his actions, his smile, his mercy; Him... Allahuakbar.
• The Quran... Allahuakbar.
• Allah...  He is Greater than that is, than that was and than that will ever be.. Allahuakbar.

Explanation

I've been going through some personal problems lately as does everyone. With things on my mind it was time for Maghrib (evening) salah (prayer). As all salah starts, I raised my hands and said Allahuakbar (God is Greater). This is usually a passive act a norm on my part, but for some reason the words took an active form. I proceeded to recited Surah An-Naba. The surah (chapter) eloquently describes the creation of Allah and it made me think, 'gosh Allah is Greater!' He is above and beyond all the problems that exist; He is the One who is the source of everything that is, and that is happening and that will to come. My problems, issues, sins, loss etc are small in front of Him. My emotions and feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and defeat are nothing but being blind to the logical and simple answer that is on my lips that Allahuakbar - Allah is greater and beyond all of this and as long as He exist, there is hope, there is support and confidence and the means to change and attain victory.

I was reminded to let go of emotions as they more often than not cloud judgement. I was also reminded that beauty can lie in the simplest of things if we take a moment to observe. Life is difficult for everyone and regardless of the diversity of the problems they lead to the same human emotions. There is only one thing to do; pick ourselves up and realise that there is a greater power at work. We have no choice but to acknowledge, smile and submit.

The inspiration for this piece is derived from the IPersonalEnrichment.com program which I highly recommend to everyone. The instructor (my friend and mentor) +AbdelRahman Mussa speaks about this concept in a very practical manner.

*ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ  لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ  فَأَنَّىٰ تُصْرَفُونَ

That is Allah , your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted? (Quran 39:6)