Imam Abū Mansūr al-Azharī, may Allah have mercy on him, said in his book Tahdhīb al-Lugha: “One indication that the glorification of these created beings is an act of worship prescribed for them is Allah’s command to the mountains: ‘O mountains, join him in glorification—and the birds as well.’ 1 The meaning of ‘join him in glorification’ is: glorify Allah with David throughout the day until nightfall. Allah’s command—Mighty and Majestic is He—to the mountains to join him in glorification can only mean that this was prescribed to them as worship. The same applies to His words, Mighty and Majestic is He: ‘Do you not see that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth prostrate to Allah, as do the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, all living creatures, and many human beings?’ 2 These created beings’ prostration is an act of worship offered to their Creator, though we do not comprehend it, just as we do not comprehend their glorification. The same applies to His words: ‘Indeed, there are stones from which rivers gush forth; others split open and water issues from them; and others fall down out of fear of Allah.’ 3 Allah knows that they fall out of fear of Him, but He has not disclosed its reality to us. We therefore believe what He has made known to us. As for how they perform this—something our minds have not been charged with comprehending—we do not claim to define any specific manner for it.” 4 End quote. His words, may Allah have mercy on him, are profound and constitute an excellent exposition.

After referring to what had been said concerning the intended meaning of glorification, al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy on him, stated: “The correct view is that it truly glorifies Allah, and Allah Most High grants it a faculty of discernment appropriate to its nature.” 5.