A person calling out or making an appeal, or anyone else seeking or requesting something, or someone conveying information or relating an account, may make an outward gesture toward the person addressed or another intended person. This may serve to identify that person to the listeners when they cannot otherwise know which individual is meant. For example, someone calling to a particular man among several men might say, “O man,” “O you,” or “O Zayd,” when several people there are named Zayd. He must indicate the intended person, whether by turning his face toward him or gesturing with his eyes, head, hand, or something else. At other times, he gestures to reinforce his address and make its intended recipient clear, even when that person is distinguished by name.

One cannot call upon someone while gesturing toward someone other than the person being called. Thus, one cannot say, “O Zayd,” while pointing to someone other than the intended person, or say, “O you,” while pointing to someone other than the intended person. Accordingly, when a supplicant says, “O Allah,” and gestures with his head, eyes, face, hand, or finger, his gesture can only be directed toward Allah, whom he has invoked, called upon, and addressed intimately—not toward anyone else. For it is natural for someone calling upon another to gesture toward the one being called. Here, when the supplicant says, “O Allah,” or something similar, there is no one toward whom he directs his gesture except Allah.

It is therefore toward Him that he directs himself inwardly and outwardly. This inward and outward orientation toward Him consists in making Him his aim and turning to Him. This is part of the meaning of His being al-Samad (the One to whom all turn): His servants direct themselves to Him and turn toward Him, inwardly and outwardly. It is also part of what it means for Him to be the One sought, invoked, and worshipped, and part of the meaning of His divinity. Thus, they invoke Him and direct themselves toward Him inwardly and outwardly. Just as, when they say, “O Allah,” their hearts cannot be directed toward anyone else—rather, He is the One intended