act of relief comes from Him, even when He brings it about through someone else. It is therefore truly attributable to Him, glorified and exalted is He, and only figuratively to others.

They said:

“Among His names, Most High, are al-Mughīth (the Giver of Relief) and al-Ghiyāth (the Source of Relief). The name al-Mughīth is mentioned in the hadith of Abū Hurayrah.” They also said that the Muslim community unanimously agreed on this.

Abū ‘Abd Allāh al-Halīmī said:

“Al-Ghiyāth is the same as al-Mughīth. The expression most commonly used is ‘the Source of Relief for Those Who Seek It.’ It means the One who comes to His servants’ aid in adversity when they call upon Him, answers them, and delivers them. In the account of the prayer for rain in the two Sahīh collections, we find:

‘O Allah, grant us relief! O Allah, grant us relief!’

“The verb aghāthahu (‘he brought him relief’) has the verbal nouns ighāthah, ghiyāth, and ghawth (‘relief’). This name conveys the meaning of ‘the One Who Answers’ and ‘the One Who Responds.’ Allah Most High says:

‘When you sought help from your Lord, He answered you.’

“However, providing relief applies more properly to actions, and responding to words, though either may be used in place of the other.”

They said: “The difference between someone seeking relief and someone making a supplication is that the former cries out for relief, whereas the latter calls upon the one addressed and the giver of relief.”

This, however, is open to question, for one form of seeking relief is: “O Allah, help the Muslims!” It is reported that Ma‘rūf al-Karkhī would frequently cry, “Help!” and say, “I heard Allah say:

‘When you sought help from your Lord, He answered you.’”

A transmitted supplication also says:

“O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all, there is no deity but You. Through Your mercy I seek relief. Set all my affairs right for me, and do not leave me to myself for the blink of an eye, nor to anyone among Your creation.”

Seeking relief through His mercy is, in reality, seeking relief from Him, just as seeking refuge in His attributes is, in reality, seeking refuge in Him, and swearing by His attributes is, in reality, swearing by Him. Thus, a hadith says:

“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.”

Another says:

“I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, in Your pardon from Your punishment, and in You from You. I cannot adequately praise You; You are as You have praised Yourself.”