Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
One of the greatest branches of knowledge that a Muslim should care about is knowing Allah تعالى through His Beautiful Names and Exalted Attributes, contemplating their meanings, and understanding the effects of faith and worship that they entail in a Muslim’s life.
Knowledge becomes noble according to the nobility of its subject, and there is nothing greater than knowledge of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and knowledge of His Names and Attributes, together with worshipping Him according to their implications.
It is authentically reported in the two Sahihs from Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one; whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise.”
Narrated by al-Bukhari (2736) and Muslim (2677).
Knowing the Names of Allah تعالى does not merely mean memorizing their words. It includes understanding their meanings, believing in what they indicate, and worshipping Allah تعالى in accordance with their implications.
As for calling Allah سبحانه وتعالى “Al-Kabīr” (The Most Great), this is correct because Allah تعالى named Himself by this name in His Book in more than one place.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:
﴿عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ﴾
“Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Most Great, the Most High.”
[Al-Ra‘d: 9]
And He تعالى says:
﴿حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا الْحَقَّ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ﴾
“Until, when fear is removed from their hearts, they say, ‘What has your Lord said?’ They say, ‘The truth’; and He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
[Saba’: 23]
And He سبحانه وتعالى says:
﴿فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِ﴾
“Judgment belongs to Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.”
[Ghafir: 12]
This name also occurs in the Prophetic Sunnah. In the authentic hadith of Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said regarding what occurs when Allah تعالى decrees a matter:
“... They say, ‘What has your Lord said?’ They say, ‘The truth’; and He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
Narrated by al-Bukhari (4522).
Thus, the Name “Al-Kabīr” is established for Allah تعالى by the Qur’an and Sunnah. Therefore, it is permissible for a Muslim to describe Allah سبحانه وتعالى as Al-Kabīr and to call upon Him by this Name.
The Name of Allah “Al-Kabīr” indicates His greatness and perfection, and that He سبحانه is greater than everything, more exalted, higher, and greater in rank and majesty.
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said in explaining the meaning of this Name:
“Allah سبحانه is greater than everything in His essence, rank, might, and majesty. He is greater than everything in His essence, attributes, and actions, just as He is above everything, exalted over everything, greater than everything, and more majestic than everything, in His essence, attributes, and actions.”
Al-Khattabi رحمه الله said:
“He is the One who is exalted above every imperfection; nothing is like Him. He is the One who is great and majestic, so everything besides His majesty is small and insignificant.”
Thus, the Name “Al-Kabīr” affirms the greatness, perfection, and majesty of Allah تعالى, and that all created beings, regardless of how great they may be, are small in comparison with the greatness of the Creator سبحانه وتعالى.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى commanded His servants to magnify Him, saying:
﴿وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلِيٌّ مِنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا﴾
“And say: Praise be to Allah, Who has not taken a son, nor has He any partner in His dominion, nor does He need any protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with great glorification.”
[Al-Isra’: 111]
For this reason, saying takbir has been legislated in many acts of worship, including the opening takbir of the prayer, the takbirs during prayer, supplications after the prayers, takbir when stoning the pillars during Hajj, at slaughter, on the two Eids, and other occasions.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also encouraged frequent takbir and explained that it is among the words most beloved to Allah تعالى. He said:
“The most beloved words to Allah تعالى are four: Subhan Allah, Al-hamdulillah, La ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu Akbar. It does not matter with which of them you begin.”
Narrated by Muslim (2137).
“Al-Kabīr” (The Most Great) is one of the established Names of Allah تعالى in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Allah سبحانه وتعالى named Himself by it, saying: ﴿وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ﴾ — “And He is the Most High, the Most Great”, and: ﴿فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِ﴾ — “Judgment belongs to Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.”
The meaning of “Al-Kabīr” is: The One possessing perfect greatness and majesty, who is greater and more magnificent than everything in His essence, attributes, and actions, and nothing among His creation resembles Him.
Accordingly, a Muslim saying “Allah is Al-Kabīr” or “Allah تعالى is the Most Great” is correct, as it agrees with what is established in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم.
And Allah knows best.