entails perfect praise. For this reason, “All praise is due to Allah” is the opening of an address, and every matter of importance that is not begun with praise of Allah is cut short. “Glory be to Allah” affirms His greatness, as explained earlier. Hence He says:
“So glorify the name of your Lord, the Most Great.”
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Make it part of your bowing.”
This was reported by the compilers of the Sunan collections. He also said:
“As for bowing, extol the greatness of the Lord therein. As for prostration, strive earnestly in supplication therein, for your supplications are likely to be answered.”
This was reported by Muslim. He thus assigned the extolling of Allah’s greatness more particularly to bowing than to prostration, and glorification entails extolling His greatness. Accordingly, the words “Glory and praise be to Allah” affirm His freedom from imperfection, His greatness, His divinity, and praise of Him.
As for the words “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is greatest,” the declaration “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah” affirms all His praiseworthy qualities, for they are all included in affirming His divinity. The words “Allah is greatest” affirm His greatness, for supreme majesty includes greatness, but supreme majesty is more complete.
For this reason, the prescribed wording in prayer and the call to prayer is “Allah is greatest,” for this is more complete than saying “Allah is most magnificent.” As recorded in the Sahīh, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Allah Most High says: ‘Supreme majesty is My cloak, and greatness is My lower garment. Whoever contests either of them with Me, I shall punish him.’”
He thus likened greatness to the lower garment and supreme majesty to the cloak, and it is well known that the cloak is more honorable. Since declaring Allah’s supreme greatness is more emphatic than extolling His greatness, the former is stated explicitly and includes the latter. In the words “Glory be to Allah,” His freedom from evil is stated explicitly, and this entails extolling His greatness. Thus, each of the two expressions