Meaning & Explanation
Al-Kabir is the One who is greater than everything, greater than our imagination can conceive. His greatness encompasses all existence. Nothing is greater than Him, and everything else is small in comparison to His immensity.
Quran References
2 versesContext: Allah is greater than all false gods
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ
“That is because Allah is the Truth, and what they call upon other than Him is falsehood, and because Allah is the Most High, the Grand”
Context: Only Allah deserves to be called Great
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ
“That is because Allah is the Truth, and what they call upon other than Him is falsehood, and because Allah is the Most High, the Grand”
Exemplifying Story
quranIbrahim Recognizing the Greatest
Reference: Surah Al-An'am 6:75-79
When Ibrahim was searching for truth, he looked at the stars and said: "This is my lord." But when it set, he was disappointed. He saw the moon and declared: "This is my lord." But it too set. Then the sun rose, and he said: "This is my lord, this is greater!" But when it set, he realized the truth: none of these could be Lord. He declared: "I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and earth." Ibrahim recognized that Al-Kabir is greater than the greatest of creation - greater than stars, moon, and sun combined.
Everything in creation has limits and will fade. Only Al-Kabir is truly great without limitation. When we recognize His supreme greatness, everything else becomes small.
How to Live By This Name
- 1Say "Allahu Akbar" with conscious awareness of His greatness
- 2Let nothing be greater than Allah in your heart
- 3Face all challenges by remembering Allah is greater
- 4Put worldly concerns in perspective before Al-Kabir
Du'a: Ya Kabir, You are greater than all my problems and worries.