upon him is a form of supplication, and he has a greater claim upon the believers than they have upon themselves. Supplication for him therefore takes precedence over supplication for others, just as greetings of peace to him in the tashahhud precede greetings to others—even to the person praying. This illustrates the perfection of the religion’s underlying wisdom. Thus, praise precedes the testimony of faith in sermons, just as praise precedes the affirmation of Allah’s oneness in al-Fātihah, expressed in His words:

“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”

In Sunan Abī Dāwūd and elsewhere, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is reported to have said:

“Every important matter that is not begun with praise of Allah is cut short.”

Praise of Allah thus belongs at the beginning. This is why the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would open his sermons with praise of Allah. Likewise, prayer begins with praise: all Muslims begin it with the Surah of Praise, for this is the Sunnah established through mass transmission from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. According to the majority of Muslims, it begins with the word “Praise” recited aloud.

If, according to the majority of them, the invocation “In the name of Allah” is intended, it serves as a means. For the reciter’s words, “In the name of Allah,” mean “In the name of Allah, recite,” or “I am reciting in the name of Allah.” This is why invoking Allah’s name is prescribed at the beginning of all actions: one invokes His name when eating and drinking, entering and leaving the home, entering and leaving the mosque, and performing other actions. At the time of slaughter, it is one of the rites affirming Allah’s oneness. Prayer and recitation are themselves actions, so they begin with the invocation of Allah’s name.