Bismillahir
Rahmaanir Raheem
By Hadhrat Moulana AbdulHamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)
In these
Mubarak days of Zul Hijjah, we are commanded to commence the Takbeer-e-Tashreeq
after the Fardh Salaah, commencing from Fajr of the 9th of Zul
Hijjah until Asr of the 13th of Zul Hijjah.
In reading
the Takbeer-e-Tashreeq, we should ponder over the meanings and message that are
expounded in these words. Three aspects that are highlighted are:
1.) THE GREATNESS OF ALLAH TA’ALA
With “Allahu
Akbar, Allahu Akbar”, we acknowledge, with heart and soul,
that Allah Ta’ala is the Greatest, and we reflect that no matter what our
standing and position in society, no matter what our wealth and no matter what
our family name or qualifications, we are not great. Greatness is only
for Allah Ta’ala.
Many
people came into this world and they not only thought they were great, they
claimed greatness for themselves: Fir’aun, Haamaan, Qa’roon, Abu Jahl,
Abu Lahab, Ubayy ibn Khalaf, Umayyah bin Khalaf, Abdullah bin Ubayy ibn Salool
and others. In entertaining their own ‘greatness’ and ‘importance’ – they
ruined their souls and ruined their Aakhirah.
Even
today, many consider themselves great. This is the deception of nafs.
...So the
Takbeer-e-Tashreeq is not to compete with the Imam and the other Musallis and
seek to be the first to loudly pronounce the Takbeer after Salaah. Masha-Allah,
Alhamdulillah, we read it and we enjoy it. However, ponder over the
significance and meaning. The Takbeer is to remind us that Allah Ta’ala is the
Greatest.
In this,
we should also take lesson and understand that our own honour and distinction
lies in Abdiyyat (Servitude) to Allah Ta’ala, in humbling ourselves, submitting
ourselves before Allah Ta’ala, and worshipping Allah Ta’ala with love
and devotion.
True Abdiyyat is submitting one’s heart, one’s soul, one’s intellect and
one’s body in the love and obedience of Allah Ta’ala.
2.) TAUHEED - THE ONENESS OF ALLAH TA’ALA
With our
recitation of ‘La Ilaaha illallaah”, we negate and eradicate all the ‘idols’
from our hearts and our lives – the ‘idols’ of gold, silver, money, prestige,
power, women, name, fame, etc.
And we
establish and affirm that there is only ONE
‘ilaah’ – Allah Ta’ala, as He is with all His beautiful names and
qualities, and we accept all His Orders and Submit to His Commands and believe
very firmly that our success, of both worlds, lies in these pure words. …This
is what Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) invited to when he
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) would say:
“O People! Say ‘La ilaaha ilallaah’ and
you will be successful.”
We should also understand that it is only Allah Ta’ala Who does. We are
not the doers of anything.
3.) HAMD – PRAISE OF ALLAH TA’ALA
With the
recitation of “Wa lillahil Hamd”, we acknowledge that praise is
only for Allah Ta’ala. Praise is not for me, praise is not for any of us. The
person who considers himself or herself deserving of praise is foolish – since
every bounty and blessing, which invites praise, is from Allah Ta’ala Himself.
So even if a person is praised, he is praised on something given to him by his
Rabb.
Allah
Ta’ala commences the opening Surah of the Qur’an Sharief, drawing our attention
to this truth: “All Praise is due to Allah, Rabb of the Worlds”!
For twenty
three Salaah, we recite these beautiful words. These words effect reformation,
change and improvement if we would only bring the reality of its message in our
lives, and work towards inculcating the spirit of submission and sacrifice for
Allah Ta’ala Alone.
May Allah
Ta’ala grant me, you and all the reality and Taufeeq.
It is Waajib (obligatory) for every adult Muslim to recite the
Takbiraat of Tashreeq audibly, ONCE, after every Fardh Salaah, from Fajr of the
9th of Zul Hijjah to Asr of the 13th of Zul Hijjah.
Takbeer should be recited
immediately after completing the Fardh Salaah.
Females should recite the
Takbeer softly.
