What is the meaning of Allahu Akbar? Greater than what? And is it permissible to compare Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with other created things?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Finally: Here is a question that contains some strangeness, but its cause is known; he says:The questioner : What is the meaning of Allahu Akbar? Greater than what? And is it permissible to compare Allah with other created things?
Answer: He says: Is it permissible to compare Allah with other created things? Meaning: Is it permissible to compare Allah with created things?
If by comparison he means likeness, then the answer is naturally: It is not permissible. As for us, we say: Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is Alive, and we are now alive; is this a comparison? It is not a comparison; because Allah says:[Ash-Shuraa 42:11]; so He is Alive and we are alive; this is not called a comparison; because His life is intrinsic, not acquired from another, and eternal, whereas our life is by Him (Blessed and Exalted is He).
And so, everything by which we describe Allah (Mighty and Majestic), we only describe Him while observing His saying:[Ash-Shuraa 42:11]. Among this is what came in this question: Allah is Greater, greater than what? Greater than everything. Allah is greater than everything.
It came in the authentic hadiths in Muslim and others that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) on the Day of Resurrection will hold the heavens and the earths in His hand; is this anything but an explanation and confirmation that: Allah is greater than everything? Meaning, when we say: Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) has existence, this existence is not a mental existence; that is: an imaginary existence, but rather it is a real existence. Meaning, the scholars—specifically the scholars of Kalam—divide existence into two parts: real existence and mental existence; existence in realities and existence in minds...
Answer: He says: Is it permissible to compare Allah with other created things? Meaning: Is it permissible to compare Allah with created things?
If by comparison he means likeness, then the answer is naturally: It is not permissible. As for us, we say: Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is Alive, and we are now alive; is this a comparison? It is not a comparison; because Allah says:
There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُAnd so, everything by which we describe Allah (Mighty and Majestic), we only describe Him while observing His saying:
There is nothing like unto Him
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌIt came in the authentic hadiths in Muslim and others that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) on the Day of Resurrection will hold the heavens and the earths in His hand; is this anything but an explanation and confirmation that: Allah is greater than everything? Meaning, when we say: Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) has existence, this existence is not a mental existence; that is: an imaginary existence, but rather it is a real existence. Meaning, the scholars—specifically the scholars of Kalam—divide existence into two parts: real existence and mental existence; existence in realities and existence in minds...
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.
