An example of this type is the statement of Allah Most High: “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the Straight Path”—to the end of the surah. Before the supplication—“Guide us to the Straight Path”—He placed praise of Allah through the mention of His magnificent Most Beautiful Names. Another example is for the supplicant to say: “O Most Compassionate, have mercy on me”; “O Ever-Forgiving, forgive me”; or “O Provider, provide for me,” and other such forms of seeking nearness to Allah through His Most Beautiful Names.

Second: Seeking nearness to Allah Most High through the righteous deeds performed by the servant, such as seeking nearness to Allah through faith in Him, obedience to Him, following His Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—and loving him. An example of this type is the statement of Allah Most High: “Those who say, ‘Our Lord, we have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.’” 1 He also says: “Our Lord, we have heard a caller calling to faith: ‘Believe in your Lord,’ and so we believed. Our Lord, forgive us our sins, absolve us of our misdeeds, and cause us to die among the righteous.” 2 Another example is the three men’s seeking nearness to Allah through their deeds when the rock sealed them inside the cave. Allah answered their supplication and relieved their distress. Al-Bukhārī and Muslim narrated from Abd Allah ibn Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “While three men were walking, rain overtook them, so they sought shelter in a cave in a mountain. A rock then rolled down from the mountain over the entrance to their cave and sealed them inside. They said to one another, ‘Consider the righteous deeds that you have performed