Understanding Salat — Page 138
Understanding S al A t 138 The Promised Messiah as said, Holy is my Lord the most High. The word a‘lā (the most high) is in the grammatical form that expresses the superlative degree. This naturally calls for pros- tration. Therefore, along with these words, the image that one shows in practice is that of prostration. ( Malf uzā t (English), vol. 2, pp. 148) ‘The Most Great’ ( ُ اَلْعَظِيْم ) refers to the power of Allah Almighty that exists within the realm of our capacity of com- prehension. As far as our eyes can see and as far as our mind can take us, there we will find the awe-inspiring power of ‘the Most Great’ ( ُ اَلْعَظِيْم ). But ‘the Most High’ ( َعْلَى اَلْأ ) refers to the power of Allah that exists beyond the realm of our capac- ity of comprehension. However far our mind is capable of taking us, just beyond that point is where ‘the Most High’ ( َعْلَى ْأ اَل ) begins. It takes sight to see ‘the Most Great’ ( ُ اَلْعَظِيْم ), but it takes insight to see ‘the Most High’ ( َعْلَى اَلْأ ). We recog- nize ‘the Most Great’ ( ُ اَلْعَظِيْم ) through what we know, but we recognize ‘the Most High’ ( َعْلَى اَلْأ ) by realizing how much we don’t know. It takes a level of knowledge to know that we know noth- ing, and that is the journey from Ruk ū ‘ to Sajdah. In Ruk ū ‘ , we reflect on everything we know about Allah Almighty, and we incline to Him and then express gratitude for having found Him. That knowledge leads us to realize how much we