then there is no doubt that he is praised for his actions, just as he is praised for his attributes.

Thus, in your words, “Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise is Yours,” you have combined declaring Allah free of all imperfection with affirming perfection. Accordingly, the conjunction means accompaniment; that is, “I declare You free of all imperfection in a manner joined with praise.”

His saying, “Blessed is Your name”: “name” here is singular, but because it is annexed, it encompasses every one of Allah’s names.

Does “name” here refer to the One named—as in the words, “Blessed are You, Possessor of Majesty and Honor”—such that “Blessed is Your name” means, “Blessed are You,” as in His saying: “Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High.” [al-A‘la] The One being glorified is Allah, the One named. Or does it mean that Allah’s name itself is entirely blessed, and if the name of the One named is blessed, then the One named is greater, more deserving, and more complete in blessedness?

The answer is that the second meaning is more apparent, because it spares us from using “name” figuratively to refer to the One named, and because it necessarily entails that the One named is blessed.

Examples of the blessedness of Allah’s name:

If you slaughter an animal without mentioning Allah’s name, it would be carrion—impure and unlawful. But if you mention Allah’s name over it, it becomes properly slaughtered, wholesome, and lawful.

Likewise, if you mention Allah’s name over food, Satan does not share it with you; but if you do not mention it, he shares it with you.

And if you mention Allah’s name when performing ablution—according to those who hold that such mention is obligatory—your ablution is valid; if you do not, your ablution is not valid.

According to those who hold that it is recommended, your ablution is more complete than it would be if you did not mention Allah’s name. These, then, are among the blessings of Allah’s name.