Re: Praise for whom is more important?? Allah or the Prophet SAW??
Muslims do not follow the Sunnah of Allah Almighty – He is the Creator. We follow His commands.
We follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) – the best of and most beloved of Creation of Allah Almighty.
We must keep everything in proportion and reason when comparing the Creator and the created.
In the Blessed Quran – Word of Allah Almighty – Allah Himself has stated that Praise belongs to Him.
In Surah al-Fatiha, “The Opening”, the first chapter of the Holy Quran. (The surah is described in various Ahadith as “the mother of the Book” (Umm al-Kitab)) which all Muslims must recite in each and every prayer, is stated that Praise belongs to Allah Almighty.
*In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy! 1:1
Praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, 1:2
the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy, 1:3
Master of the Day of Judgement. 1:4
It is You we worship; it is You we ask for help. 1:5
Guide us to the straight path: 1:6
the path of those You have blessed, those who incur no anger and who have not gone astray. 1:7
Following are a few of ayahs of the Blessed Quran which confirm that Allah Almighty has the FIRST RIGHT to Praise.
So the last remnant of the people who did wrong was cut off. Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds! (Surat al-An‘am, 6:45)
And We will remove whatever of ill-feeling is in their breasts; the rivers shall flow beneath them and they shall say: All praise is due to Allah Who guided us to this, and we would not have found the way had it not been that Allah had guided us; certainly the messengers of our Lord brought the truth; and it shall be cried out to them that this is the garden of which you are made heirs for what you did. [Sural al-A’araaf 7:43]
“The seven heavens and the Earth and all they contain glorify Him, and there is not a thing but extols His glory; but you do not understand how they glorify Him.” [Sūrah al-Isrā’ 17: 44]
``Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises are celebrated by all beings in the heavens and on earth, and by the birds with extended wings? Each one knows its prayer and psalm, And Allah is aware of what they do.‘’ (Surah al-Hajj 22:18)
And He is Allah, there is no god but He! All praise is due to Him in this (life) and the hereafter, and His is the judgment, and to Him you shall be brought back. [Surah al-Qassas 28:70]
“So glory be to Allah when you enter upon the night and when you enter upon the morning – unto Him be praise in the heavens and on Earth! – and at the Sun’s decline and at midday.”** [Sūrah al-Rūm 30: 17-18]**
Allah also says: “And assuredly We gave David grace from Us, (saying): O ye hills and birds, echo his psalms of praise!” [Sūrah Saba 34: 10]
Allah made Earth a stable home for you and the sky a dome; formed you, giving you the best of forms; and provided you with good and wholesome things. That is Allah, your Lord. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. He is the Living—there is no deity but Him—so call on Him, making your religion sincerely His. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. (Surah Ghafir, 40:64-65)
All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of Earth, Lord of all the worlds. All greatness belongs to Him in the heavens and Earth. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surat al-Jathiya, 45:36-37)
Allah says: “All that is in the heavens and on Earth glorify Allah.” [Sūrah al-Hashr: 59:1]
“Everything in the heavens and on Earth glorifies Allah.”** [Sūrah al-Jumu`ah 62: 1]***
In daily prayers all the Muslims recite the following when after ruku’ postion.
“Sami’Allahu liman hamidah” (Allah hears those who praise Him)“Rabbana lakal hamd.” (Our Lord, praise be to You).
In hadith we have the following.
Jabir bin `Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah said:
(The best Dhikr (remembering Allah) is La ilaha illallah and the best supplication is Al-Hamdu Lillah.) - An-Nasa’I; At-Tirmidhi; Ibn Majah
Hafs (ra) mentioned that Umar said to Ali, "We know La ilaha illallah, Subhan Allah and Allahu Akbar. What about Al-Hamdu Lillah’’ `Ali said, "A statement that Allah liked for Himself, was pleased with for Himself and He likes that it be repeated.‘’
Also, Ibn Abbas said, "Al-Hamdu Lillah is the statement of appreciation. When the servant says Al-Hamdu Lillah, Allah says, My servant has praised Me.
The Blessed Prophet (Peace be upon him) has recommended that we should the following as much as possible.
(There is) none worthy of worship except Allah. He is only One. (There is) no partners for Him. For Him (is) the Kingdom. And for Him (is) the Praise. He gives life and acuses death. And He (is) Alive. He will not die, never, ever. Possessor of Majesty and Reverence. In His hand (is) the goodness. And He (is) the goodness. And He (is) on everything powerful.)
Allah Almighty and His angels bless the blessed Prophet (peace be upon him) and Believers are commanded to pray to Allah Almighty to bless the Porphet (peace be upon him) with best of salutations.
Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe! call for (Divine) blessings on him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation.** [Surah al-Ahzaab 33:56]**
We should praise Allah Almighty first as it is due to Him, then only we can praise His beloved – the best of His creation. This will be more pleasing to the blessed Prophet (Peace be upon him) as he did the same. The believers follow the Sunnah of the blessed Prophet (Peace be upon him) and not the Sunnah of Allah Almighty!!!
Interestingly
Muhammad means worthy of praise
The meaning of Ahmad is “highly praised”
