no one with an atom’s weight of faith in his heart will enter the Fire.” He thus set arrogance in opposition to faith, for arrogance is incompatible with the true essence of servitude, as is established in an authentic report from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said:

“Allah says: ‘Greatness is My lower garment and grandeur My upper garment. Whoever contests either of them with Me, I will punish him.’”

Greatness and grandeur belong exclusively to lordship, and grandeur is higher than greatness. Hence He likened grandeur to the upper garment and greatness to the lower garment. This is why the proclamation “Allah is the Greatest” is the hallmark of the prayers, the call to prayer, and the festivals. It is also recommended in elevated places such as al-Safā and al-Marwah, when one ascends a height or mounts a riding animal, and in similar circumstances. By it, a fire is extinguished, however great, and at the call to prayer Satan flees.

Allah Most High says:

“And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you. Indeed, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Hell in humiliation.’”

Everyone who is too arrogant to worship Allah must inevitably worship something else, for a human being is a sentient being who acts by will. It is authentically reported from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that he said:

“The most truthful names are Hārith and Hammām.”

Hārith means one who earns and acts, while Hammām is an intensive form derived from hamm (intention), and intention is the first stage of willing. A human being is always willing something, and every act of will must have an ultimate object. Every servant must therefore have a beloved object of desire that is the ultimate goal of his love and will. Whoever does not take Allah as the One he worships and the ultimate goal of his love and will, but is instead too arrogant to do so, must inevitably have a beloved object of desire