[swwatch]

Here is a talk on the Levels of Submission from Shaykh Husain. My notes are as follows:

~~~

Saying the following phrase (made up of 4 words) three times has more blessing and value than hours of remembrance:
1. Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi adada khalqihi
2. Wa rida-a nafsihi
3. Wa zinatah ‘arshihi
4. Wa midada kalimatihi
Surah Al-Kahf, v.109:
Say: Though the sea became ink for the words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the Words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help.
A story about the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
*The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to wake up his household for tahajjud prayer
*His wife (ra) was sitting in remembrance of Allah سبحانه و تعال when the Prophet (saw) went for Fajr prayers.
*She was still sitting in remembrance of Allah سبحانه و تعال when the Prophet (saw) eturned after quite some time – some 4-5 hours or so later – just before Dhuhr prayers.
*She had been sitting for hours upon hours in remembrance of Allah سبحانه و تعال.
*He said to her: “I said 4 words 3 times and they are weightier on the scale of Allah Ta'aala in their blessing than everything you’ve done all morning.” And he taught her the 4 words.
Why these words?
1. Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi adada khalqihi
Let Allah سبحانه و تعال be praised and let him be glorified as much as all of the creation of the entire universe
Think about the number! Humans alive right now are in the billions, just think about adding all those who died and every other created thing to the number
So, over-and-over let Allah سبحانه و تعال be praised & glorified - infinitely
2. Wa rida-a nafsihi
… as much as pleases Allah سبحانه و تعال
If I sit down & praise Allah سبحانه و تعال as much as I think he deserves – that has an end. Maybe 2-3 hours and then finished, limited. But, his praise and glory are unlimited - infinite
3. Wa zinatah ‘arshihi
… as much as the weight of His Throne
If you took everything in the universe and then compare to His Throne it would be so minutely small that it would be like a small ring in the middle of a desert.
4. Wa midada kalimatihi
… as much as the ink of His World.
More than we can imagine – go back to ayah from Surah Al-Kahf
4 easy, simple words that anyone can say

Sunnah to recite them after Fajr

How can it be that these words are more weightier than hours of devoted remembrance?
b/c SUBMITTING to Allah سبحانه و تعال
essentially saying: “Ya Allah! I have no ability to praise you the way you deserve to be praised”
so you turn it over to Allah سبحانه و تعال /hand it over to Allah سبحانه و تعال
This is the depth of submission.
Secret: the MERCY OF ALLAH سبحانه و تعال
* No matter what we do, we are dependent on His Mercy
* That is why we gather in righteous company (like the talk) in order to tap into His Mercy
* One time, sahaba were sitting with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when he said: “none will enter into Jannah except by the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعال.” The sahaba then asked “Ya RasulAllah, even you?” He replied: “Even I will not enter except through the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعال.”
* Allah سبحانه و تعال is infinite in His Mercy.
* Leaves the door open for us.
* Gives us excuse after excuse after excuse – plenty of opportunities to put us into Jannah, to bring us closer to Him.
How?
Pray – wash away sin/wipe away
Wudhu – sins are washed away
Jumah prayers – all minor sins forgiven from one Jumah prayer to the next
Hajj – wiped away like a baby, clean
Etc. etc. etc.This is the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعال
The only thing it takes from us… niyah (intention) to turn to Allah سبحانه و تعال

Goal: to make a change, to decide to submit to Allah سبحانه و تعال
Then we will see how everything else changes
Take that 1st step – submit to the Mercy of Allah سبحانه و تعال

It takes such a minimal effort – for example, memorize the 4 words – everyone has the ability to do so… it just takes intention.
Yet… we turn away and run in the opposite direction
Think to yourself: "today where am I in my deen and where do I want to be tomorrow?"

~~~