Everything successful has careful preparation behind it. Without that preparation, there can be no success. A good and easy way to understand the importance of preparation is to think of a farmer who has the best seed. What is the first thing he does? He prepares the soil because he knows that toxic soil will kill the seed. He detoxes the soil, treats it for pathogens, adjusts the pH value and organic content, digs irrigation channels, makes fences, and secures boundaries. Only when all this is done, will be plant the seed. The best seed is the Book of Allahﷻ and the teaching of His Messengerﷺ. But if we want that to take root in our lives and enrich us with the fragrance of its flowers and shade us with its branches and bless us with its fruit, we must prepare the soil to receive it. Then when we plant it, it will take root and change our lives. Without that, it will remain dry words alone, and we will not feel its blessing in our lives. That soil and garden is our heart.

Sahl ibnʿAbd Allah ibn Yunus, Abu Muhammad al-Tustari (d. 283) ® who Al-Dhahabi called Shaykh al-Arifin (Master of the Knowers) says that when he was three years old, he would wake up at night to watch his uncle Muhammad ibn al-Sawwar ® pray. He spent his early years with his uncle and Dhu al-Nun al-Misri ® whom he met during Hajj. Al-Qushayri ® narrates from ʿUmar ibn Wasil al-Basri ® that Sahl ® said, “My uncle once told me, “Remember Allahﷻ Who created you.” I asked, “How should I remember him?” He replied, “Say in your heart, whenever you are alone at night, three times, without moving your tongue: Allahﷻ is with me; Allahﷻ is looking at me; Allahﷻ is watching me.” This is the meaning of Tarbiyya. Ask, if this is something we do for our children. Ask, why not?

Why say it without moving your tongue? Because then it is your heart speaking. That is when you start to feel the power of the words. What does it mean to feel, Allahﷻ is with me; Allahﷻ is looking at me; Allahﷻ is watching me? It means tears of gratitude and love for Allahﷻ in our eyes when nobody is watching. It means total freedom from all fears. It means complete acceptance and happiness with whatever Allahﷻ decreed for us. Ridha bil Qadha. It means to focus on only one thing i.e., how can we please Allahﷻ? Nothing else matters. It means to fear and be ashamed of committing any sin, no matter how ‘small’, Shaytaan tell us it is. When I am aware that Allahﷻ is watching, I am aware of who Allahﷻ is. Allahu Akbar. So, no disobedience of Allahﷻ can be considered small. It means that if I commit any sin, no matter the reason, I will immediately seek Allahﷻ’s pardon and seek to have that sin wiped off my slate.

What is the meaning of Allahu Akbar? I don’t mean the translation. I mean meaning. What does it mean to me? What does it do to me? Let us ask that.

It is necessary for us to have the Aqeeda that Allahﷻ is Al-Akbar. But what does that mean? It means that if we are afraid, safety is with Al-Akbar. And if we need anything seek out Al-Akbar (The Greatest). And if we need to trust someone and rely on him, then turn to Al-Akbar. And when we need to ask, we ask Al-Akbar. When we have access to Al-Akbar why would we ask anyone else? If you ask others, then ask if you really believe that Allahﷻ is Al-Akbar. When we want a pillar to rely on and lean against, then the strongest support and pillar is Al-Akbar, Allahu Subhana. Because when every ‘great’ thing is put against Him, it humbles itself and diminishes until it is nothing. So, what are we afraid of? When something happens to us that you are afraid of, that causes us anxiety, depression, stress, and panic and we turn right and left searching for influential people to help us while we are heedless of Al-Akbar. Instead do what the Sahaba did. Call on Him, Allahu Akbar and beg Him for protection and help.