When Hazrat Ali radhiallahu anhu listed the six main blessings of Allah Ta’ala upon us from among the innumerable bounties, he put Imaan or belief in Allah Ta’ala at the top of that list. To believe in Allah Ta’ala is in reality the starting point of a marvelous journey towards constantly knowing more about our beloved Allah Ta’ala.
Knowledge brings appreciation
The appreciation of anything increases with the amount of knowledge you have about it. A person who knows very little about vehicles is only too happy for that vehicle to get him to his destination. He has little interest in knowing about the engineering or design process that went into its production. Once a person gets to know the specifications of a vehicle such as a sports car for example, he starts to gain better appreciation of what he is riding in. The enthusiast will wax lyrical about the engine, the quality of the build, the features, the dynamics and the handling.
The engineer has even more appreciation because he knows the technology that went into producing something that is cutting edge. The more you know about the car, the more you will enjoy it and enthuse about it.
The more we learn about Allah Ta’ala, the more the joy and sweetness of recognizing Him will take hold of our hearts and minds. We cannot imagine or envisage Allah Ta’ala, nor will we be able to see Him in this world.
The journey of recognition
So how do we go about gaining more appreciation of Him? It is through knowing His qualities. The best starting point for that are His Beautiful Names since each name points to a divine quality.
Allah Ta’ala Himself instructs us, “To Allah belong the most beautiful names. So, call Him by them.” (Noble Quran 7:180). The more we learn what these Names mean, the more we can apply them to the appropriate Duas. So when we are seeking forgiveness we call on Al Ghafoor, the most forgiving; or if we are looking for financial relief we call to Al Razzaq, the one who provides sustenance.
The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam informs us, “Allah Ta’ala has 99 beautiful names. Whoever learns them (and practices upon them) will enter Paradise.” (Tirmidhi)
The more we learn these names the more they will open doors to recognising Allah Ta’ala. The more we recognise Him, the more our love for Him will increase. This in turn will make us obedient to Him in carrying out His commands.
The value of recognition
Allah Ta’ala sets out the purpose of man’s creation, “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Noble Quran 51:56) In explaining the worship of Allah Ta’ala in this verse, Ibn Abbas radhiallahu anhuma says that worship refers to recognising Allah Ta’ala.
Malik ibn Dinar rahimahullah laments the misfortune of those who die without recognising Allah Ta’ala, “How unfortunate that the people who are attached to the material things of this world to the exclusion of all else, leave this world without experiencing the most enjoyable thing it has to offer.” On being asked what this was, he replied, “Recognising and knowing who Allah Ta’ala is.”
Umm Darda radhiallahu anha stated, “The most virtuous and sublime knowledge is the recognition of Allah Ta’ala.”
Ibn Juraij rahimahullah explains the verse “And whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart,” (Noble Quran 64:11) by stating that the person who attains the level of faith by which Allah Ta’ala is recognised qualifies as the one whose heart is rightly guided.
Yahya ibn Dhurais rahimahullah quotes the wise people as saying, “How tragic it is that people have heard of Allah Ta’ala but have not recognised Him and have not acknowledged Him as their Creator. In reality, that part of your life can truly be called life in which you have recognised your Creator and obeyed him. As for the rest, then do not even count it as life.”
Fadhl al Raqqashi rahimahullah describes true knowledge as being four things: 1. To recognise your Sustainer, who He is and what He does for you. 2. To know what He will do with you in the case you do something good or bad. 3. To know what He wants from you. 4. To know how to come out of your sins and repair the wrong of disobeying Him.
A person who does a tremendous amount of charitable works and establishes hospitals but does not believe in Allah Ta’ala is guilty of treason, of the unpardonable crime of not acknowledging who has allowed him to be where he is in life.
Luqmaan the wise said, “The really evil person is the one who does not acknowledge his true Lord.”
Hakeem ibn Jafar rahimahullah said that he heard Abu Abdullah al Barnathi rahimahullah say many times, “Through recognising your Creator, acts of worship become very easy to carry out for those who wish to practice.” This is an excellent remedy for lethargy and not having the drive or enthusiasm to do good deeds.
Hassan ibn Atiyyah rahimahullah notes a recipe for gaining popularity, “No one increases in the recognition of Allah Ta’ala except that people come closer to him.”
Imam Ghazali rahimahullah captures the essence of recognising Allah Ta’ala in his inimitable style, “In summary, the most exalted knowledge and its pinnacle is the recognition of Alllah Ta’ala. This is an ocean whose bottom can never be reached.” He recounts a dream of two pious people. One had a paper in his hand which read, “If you have done everything well (and have reached the peak of your profession or skill) then never think that you have done anything well until you recognise Allah Ta’ala, and know that He is the Originator of causes and the Creator of all things.” In essence, not recognising that Allah Ta’ala has given you all that you have means that you have nothing.
An infinite ocean
Our minds are extremely limited in capacity. We can only gain a tiny amount of the recognition of Allah Ta’ala. The reality is that there is no end to the journey of recognising Him. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam would pray, “Oh my Lord, increase me in knowledge.”
Allah Ta’ala puts into perspective our limited capacities when He says, “And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens and the sea [was ink], replenished thereafter by seven more seas, the words of Allah would not be exhausted.” (Noble Quran 31:27)
Allamah Shabbir Uthmani rahimahullah writes, “If all the trees were chopped and made into pens, and the seas into ink, and seven more seas with it, and the entire creation starts to write from the beginning of their existence to the end, you will not be able to write all the things that display the virtue, grandeur, might and majesty of Allah Ta’ala. The writers will die, the pens will break and the ink will run out and the praises of Allah Ta’ala will not come to an end. How can limited and finite resources be used to accomplish something that is unlimited and infinite?”
It is for this reason that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam proclaimed, “I cannot enumerate and encompass your praises (Oh Allah)! You are as You have praised Yourself.” (Muslim)
Some easy ways to attain the recognition of Allah Ta’ala:
- Learn the meaning of the Names of Allah Ta’ala. This will allow you to increase your knowledge of Him.
- Think of Allah Ta’ala before you do anything or use something. When the plate of Biryani is placed in front of you, with its lovely mutton from sheep that grazed on far off farms, and the Basmati rice from India or Pakistan, the spices from Tanzania, the saffron from Spain, and all the ingredients from so many places around the world, then think: Wow! All this preparation for a plate of food for an insignificant dot on the map like me! Who has made all this possible?
The Quraish found it farfetched to believe in resurrection because they argued that the body disintegrates after death and the earth and creatures consume it. How can this be put together again and come to life? (Noble Quran 50:2-3) Allah Ta’ala answers them, “We know very well how much of them is consumed by the earth, and We have a Book that Preserves everything.” (Noble Quran 50:4) Leave alone when we die, even while we are alive our bodies are constantly being composed of innumerable particles in the form of food, drink and medicine from all corners of the world. So why would it be difficult for Allah Ta’ala to collect and gather all these parts once it has disintegrated?
So before we eat the food, we remember Allah Ta’ala. After enjoying a delicious meal, we thank Allah Ta’ala. Once we gain strength from that food we use our minds and bodies in doing things that are pleasing to Allah Ta’ala.
- Look at the creation and marvel at the Creator. When you see a flower, ask who fashioned the petals? Which artist drew the beautiful designs on the butterflies? Who gave the tropical fish their amazing colours? A human artist copies the sunset for example, makes a canvas and sells it for a lot of money so that we can look at it and marvel. His copy is actually devoid of life. Allah Ta’ala’s sunset on the other hand is alive and every moment is different. It is free for even the poorest to enjoy. The sunset goes through a stunning array of colours and movements. All created for us so that we many recognise Allah Ta’ala.
While we live in the material world, we need to become aware of the wonders of our Creator and His Beauty so that our existence gains meaning. We will enjoy the material happiness that the world offers but with recognising Allah Ta’ala we gain spiritual ecstasy as well.
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