5. Glorifying Allah’s Rituals

Such as Honoring Ethics and Values and Honoring Those Who Apply Them and Call for Them

This virtue is derived from of the name of Allah ﷻ “The Greatest” (Al ’Azeem). Being characterized by this virtue involves glorifying Allah ﷻ in the heart and glorifying His orders.

Allah ﷻ is The Great! Allah ﷻ is The Generous! None of our good deeds will go in vain, for He sees them all and rewards every deed with the same kind of the deed. That is why when we exalt Allah ﷻ by dignifying and applying the values we were ordered to exhibit, He raises us to a dignified status in society. When we talk about Allah ﷻ, we should talk with idolization. We need to be aware of the right way we should behave with our Creator.

Definition
Rituals indicate the importance of something. Applying them shows how much we hold respect and veneration in our hearts. Rituals of Allah ﷻ are of several kinds. They could be related to morals, time, or place. By revering Allah’s ﷻ rituals and Islamic symbols, we revere Allah ﷻ. For example, the more we glorify the importance of the Quran, mosques, prayers, Al-Kaaba, Al-Madina Al-Munawwara, Masjid Al-Aqsa, Ramadan, Hajj, or Zakat, the more we feel and show glorification of Allah ﷻ. Allah ﷻ says: ﴾That is so. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah ﷻ, it is certainly out of the piety of the heart. ﴿ (1)

Explanation
All religions emphasize the importance of good manners and ethics, which are the instinct that humans are born with and the pillars of all great civilizations. The fast-paced life that we are living is jeopardizing these principles, but if we honor the sacredness of our religion, we have the chance to create respectful societies. Therefore, honoring the values and rituals of Islam can be done in myriad ways. Practicing good manners, honoring parents, respecting people, protecting animals, caring for the environment, having mercy for the young and holding the elderly in high esteem, being grateful, and forgiving are all ways of applying this virtue. Honoring Allah’s ﷻ values first starts in the heart, and it complements our belief and faith. Another way of showing reverence to the rituals of Allah ﷻ is by being committed to saying “Subhanahu Wa Taala” or “Azza Wa Jall” every time we mention His name. Allah ﷻ says: ﴾What is the matter with you that you are not in awe of the Majesty of Allah﴿(2). Also, this virtue is exhibited in obeying Allah’s ﷻ orders and avoiding His prohibitions without even arguing about the reason for His orders or prohibitions. It is equally important to refrain from disrespecting anything that is related to Allah ﷻ: His Quran, prophets, angels, heaven and hell, scholars, and parents. Also, we should refrain from telling jokes about any of those symbols. Therefore, if we are commanded by Allah ﷻ, we should hurry to obey, and if we err, we should hurry to repent. If we hear the Quran, we should listen attentively; and if Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is mentioned, we should immediately follow it by “peace be upon him,” for Allah ﷻ never called him, “Oh, Muhammad.” Even Allah ﷻ named him, “Muhammad, the Prophet.” In our turn, we should call him “Sayyiduna Muhammad.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: ((I am the leader of the sons of Adam, and it is no boast. I will be the first one for whom the earth will be split open on the Day of Resurrection, and it is no boast. I will be the first to intercede and the first whose intercession will be accepted, and it is no boast. The banner of praise will be in my hand on the Day of Resurrection, and it is no boast.))(3) Allah ﷻ says: ﴾O believers! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak loudly to him as you do to one another, or your deeds will become void while you are unaware.﴿ (4) Another way of dignifying religion is listening to the Quran when it is read aloud. Also, when the call to prayer is raised, repeating after the caller is a way of showing politeness and glorification to Allah’s ﷻ orders. Some places, too, have a special value, so we venerate the value of Mecca, Madina, and Al-Aqsa, which is considered the third blessed masjid, and from there Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was raised to the sky during Al-Israa and Al-Miraaj. Allah ﷻ says: ﴾Glory be to the One Who took His servant ‘Muḥammad’ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing﴿ (5) Therefore, glorifying Al-Aqsa is part of glorifying Allah ﷻ . Moreover, all the mosques are to be dignified, so keeping them clean and quiet is a duty. That is why only religious talks are allowed in mosques. Matters of buying and selling are to be quit, and this is one of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Moreover, we need to keep in mind that some occasions are also holy. In Ramadan, for example, sins are mostly intolerable, and the first ten days of Zou Al-Hijja is considered the most dignified period, so it is essential to quit doing what Allah ﷻ dislikes.


A Story from the Life of Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Followers
“Bishr bin Al-Harith” was known for his love of amusement and pleasures. One day, while walking on the street, he observed a piece of paper on the floor with the word “Allah” written on it. He found it grave to have someone step on the paper by chance. He took the paper, angry with whoever dropped it, and cleaned it. Then he went and bought perfume with the only money that he had and perfumed the piece of paper. When he went home, he put it on a high place in the room and slept. During his sleep, he heard someone saying, “Oh, Bishr bin Al-Harith. You raised My name and fragranced it, so your name will be raised in the world and the hereafter.” Indeed, after that incident, he became one of the most righteous people, known as “Bishr Al-Harith.” The glorification of the name of Allah ﷻ was rewarded because it was genuine and heartfelt.




Sources
1. Surah Al-Hajj : 32.
2. Surah Nuh : 13.
3. Sunan Ibn Majah 4308.
4. Surah Al-Hujurat : 2.
5. Surah Al-Isra : 1.
6. Surah Al-A’raf : 204.




ADAPTED FROM: Revive Your Heart with 52 Prophetic Ethics