Reflections

The Ninth Note

Know that prophethood is, within humanity, the origin and foundation of all human virtues and perfections. True religion is the source of true happiness, and īmān is in itself pure beauty. In this world, where radiant beauty, abundant goodness, manifest justice, and exalted perfection are plainly visible, there can be no doubt that truth and goodness are found in prophethood and manifested through the prophets, while misguidance, evil, and loss lie on the opposite side.

Among the countless beauties of worship, consider only the following:

Through the congregational prayers of Eid and Friday, the Prophet (saw) unites the hearts of those who believe in the unity of Allah and gathers their voices into a single harmonious expression. Through prayers and invocations rising from countless hearts and tongues, people respond to the exalted words of the Mabūd-i Azalī. Strengthening one another through their unity, these prayers and invocations display a magnificent act of servanthood before His Divinity.

It is as though the earth itself offers these prayers and invocations and, with all its parts, responds to the majestic command:

اَقٖيمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ

which has descended from the heavens in splendour and majesty.

Although the human being is insignificant and small in relation to the universe, through the prayers and invocations arising from countless hearts and tongues he becomes a beloved servant of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the vicegerent and sultan of the earth, the most exalted of living beings, and the reason and purpose underlying the creation of the universe.

Indeed, if the voices of the hundreds of millions of people who, after the five daily prayers and especially during the Eid prayers, simultaneously proclaim “Allahu Akbar” were to unite in the visible world just as they do in the unseen world, they would correspond to a mighty proclamation of “Allahu Akbar” by the whole earth, which is like a vast human being.

Since such a collective proclamation corresponds to a magnificent takbīr uttered by the earth itself, it may rightly be regarded as the earth’s own “Allahu Akbar.”

It is as though the surface of the earth, through the collective dhikr and invocations of the Islamic world during the Eid prayers, trembles in a supreme act of exaltation and proclaims “Allahu Akbar” with all its parts. With the Kabah as its pure heart, Mount Arafāt as its tongue, and Makkah as its mouth, it forms the intention of exalting Allah and then utters “Allahu Akbar.”

Thus the words “Allahu Akbar” resound through the air from the mouths of believers in every part of the earth, like an echo reverberating through caves. Just as the echo of a single “Allahu Akbar” gives rise to countless echoes in this world, so too this accepted dhikr and takbīr reverberates with mighty resonance throughout the realms of the heavens and the unseen.

Finally, to the number of atoms in the universe, we offer our gratitude to the Dhāt-i Dhul-Jalāl and glorify Him. He has made the earth a cradle for His creatures, a mosque for His servants, and itself a worshipper and servant before Him, glorifying Him with “SubhānAllāh” and “Allahu Akbar.”

And to the number of beings in existence, we offer Him praise for having made us members of the community of the Noble Messenger (saw), who taught us such worship.