168 — There is no doubt that praising the Lord and extolling Him is a pillar of the prayer, for the prayer is not complete without al-Fātiḥah, whose first half consists wholly of praise and exaltation of Allah. Before that, the opening supplication has been prescribed, and praise has also been legislated when rising from bowing—both of which include glorification of Allah, Exalted be He.

169 — A number of exegetes, such as al-Thaʿlabī and others, relate two views:
• They say—using al-Baghawī’s wording—“And glorify with the praise of your Lord,” meaning: “perform the prayer by the command of your Lord.” (1)
• It is also said: “Pray to Him while praising and extolling Him.”

The first interpretation cited by al-Baghawī is transmitted from Abū Mālik, one of the Successors from whom al-Suddi learned tafsīr through the Companions of Ibn ʿAbbās.

170 — Ibn Abī Ḥātim reports from Asbāṭ, from al-Suddi, from Abū Mālik, regarding the phrase “with praise,” that it means “by His command.” (2)

The expression is thus understood as: “by virtue of His being the One who is praised.” A similar discussion surrounds the phrase “Subḥān Allāh wa bi-ḥamdih” (“Glory be to Allah and with His praise”): some have explained it as, “Glory be to Allah, and along with His praise I glorify Him,” or, “I glorify Him by praising Him.”