God is the true possessor of all greatness. It must be remembered that God is not simply greater than anyone or anything in a particular category. But He is beyond any category.
The root of Al Mutakabbir is Kabura. Kabura is defined as, “To be hard, become hard…grow up, be great.” (Omar pg 476) The root of this word takes several forms in the Quran; Al Mutakabbir, takbir, and kabir.
God is the Only True Majestic Consciousness in Islam
As Al Mutakabbir God is the most advanced consciousness in existence. His consciousness and, hence, His majestic countenance is in touch with and knows the nature of all of creation. He is, oversimplified, the over mind of everything in existence. It can be postulated that if God stops thinking existence then existence will not exist. Majesty for him is something barely comprehensible to created beings.
As the Quran states,
Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god;- the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme [Al Mutakabbir]: Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.” (Quran 59:23)
God is the Supreme Conciousness which the Muslim worships.
Takbir is to glorify God
In Muslim communities around the world there is a phrase used to glorify God. This phrase has the same root as Mutakabbir; it is Takbir. Visitors to Islamic centers may here this phrase shouted by someone during a gathering. It is usually shouted during special announcements; i.e. the birth of a child or someone converting to Islam. Once someone shouts the phrase everyone else in the crowed will respond with another phrase, “Allahu Akhbar” (God is the Greatest)!
This phrase implies that all that a person receives whether children, gold, or health are gifts given from God. As the Quran states, “behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day; …and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; … (here)indeed are Signs for a people that are wise. (Quran2:164)
As the phrase Takbir implies this is the glorification of God. Takbirs are only given to God and no other. It represents what the Muslim thinks and feels about God; that all bounty flows from Him. All Good and all tests come from Him in order to meet the needs of, and test, every worshipper.
Kabir in Islam
Kabir is the form of the root Kabura that can be used as a name for a human being. Kabir thus means “…Elder…Master”. Islamically speaking for one to be Kabir it is one who follows the majestic will and power of God. One who continues to glorify his name in work and deed. Such a person has learned through the years that the only thing worth worshipping and focusing spiritual attention on is God.
Such a person is mentioned in the Quran when God say’s “men [representational of Human beings] whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from the Remembrance of Allah, nor from regular Prayer, nor from the practice of regular Charity: Their (only) fear is for the Day when hearts and eyes will be transformed (in a world wholly new),” (Quran 24:37)
As such the purpose of Islam in teaching the nature of Al Mutakabbir to its adherents is to remind them of the majestic and capable nature of their God who will never leave the side of those who show true devotion.
Sources:
Abdullah Yusef Ali, The Holy Quran; With Arabic Text.
Abdul Mannan Omar, Dictionary of The Holy Quran.
 |
