1 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن يحيى العطار رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا أبي، عن سهل بن زياد الآدمي، عن ابن محبوب، عمن ذكره، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: قال رجل عنده. (الله أكبر) فقال: الله أكبر من أي شئ؟! فقال: من كل شئ فقال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: حددته، فقال الرجل: كيف أقول؟ فقال: قل: الله أكبر من أن يوصف.

1. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya la-`Attar (RA) said: My father said, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami, on the authority of Ibn Mahbub, on the authority of who related to him that A man came to al-Sadiq (AS) and said: “Allah is the Greatest [Allahu Akbar]!” The Imam (AS) asked him, “What is Allah greater than?” The man answered, “Greater than everything!” Al-Sadiq (AS) replied, “You have brought Allah down to the level of a door.” The requested, “What should I say then?” He (AS) said: “Say Allah is greater than anything that can be described.”

2 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن أبيه، عن مروك بن عبيد عن جميع بن عمرو قال: قال لي أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: أي شئ (الله أكبر)؟! فقلت: الله أكبر من كل شئ، فقال: وكان ثم شئ فيكون أكبر منه؟! فقلت: فما هو؟ قال: الله أكبر من أن يوصف باب معنى (الأول والآخر)

2. Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muruk ibn `Ubayd, on the authority of Jumay’ ibn `Amr that Al-Sadiq (AS) asked me “What is the meaning of `Allahu Akbar’?” I replied, “Allah is greater than everything.” He (AS) said: “He was there when nothing existed. Then was it possible to say at that time that Allah is greater than everything?” I asked, “Then what is its meaning?” He replied, “Allah is greater than what He can be attributed with.”