Question 36: What is the difference between the remembrance of Ruku “Subhana rabbya al-atheem wa bihamdih” [Glory and praise be to my Lord the Almighty] and the statement of prostration “Subhana rabbya al-ala wa bihamdih” [Glory and praise be to my Lord the Most High]”?
Answer: Ruku is a state of submission and humility from the servant to Allah swt in the rank of the [Divine] Self, and the proper remembrance for this submission in this rank is: Praising the Upbringer, the Almighty or the High.
As for prostration, it is a state of submission and humility from the servant to Him in the rank of the Essence or the Truth, and the proper remembrance for this submission in this rank is: Praising the Raiser the Most High or the Most Almighty. So the rank of the servant’s knowledge of his Lord in prostration is greater than the rank of the servant’s knowledge of his Lord in the state of Ruku.
Question 37: What is the meaning of “Exalt the name of your Lord the Most High”?
Answer: The praise from the servant is only achieved by commending the Lord , and commendation is according to what He taught us through His supporters from the Prophets, Messengers, and Imams. And the least of commendation and praise is thanks.
So exaltation begins with thanks, and ends with praise. And thanking Allah begins with thanking His creation and fulfilling their rights, as the creation are the children of Allah, and the most beloved of the creation to Allah are the most compassionate toward His children, just as it was mentioned in the narration from them pbut. [1]
So the servant exalts his Lord when he is a mercy toward the believers, a compassion toward the orphans and the poor, a harshness and severity toward the stubborn disbelievers, and a Truth walking on the earth.
And the name of your Lord the Most High is Ali, because he is the most high and most great name, and Ali is with the Truth, and the Truth is with Ali, so the meaning of “Glorify the name of your Lord the Most High” is: Be a Truth walking on the earth, meaning glorify Him by work not just by word, as many falsely imagine.
Ahmed Alhasan
The Allegories – volume 2
[1] Narrated from Imam al-Sadiq , he said “The messenger of Allah said: The creations are the children of Allah, so the most loved creations to Allah are those who benefited the children of Allah and set forward happiness to the people of a household…” Al- Kafi Vol 2 Page 164
First Mahdi : Yamani : Ahmed Alhasan 