“the Lord,” which does not appear in the hadith recorded by al-Tirmidhī. Most prescribed supplications invoke this name, as in Adam’s words:

“Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves.”

And Noah’s words:

“My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You for that of which I have no knowledge.”

And Abraham’s words:

“Our Lord, forgive me and my parents.”

And Moses’ words:

“My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me.”

And the Messiah’s words:

“O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table spread with food from heaven.”

There are many similar examples. Indeed, it is reported that Mālik and others disliked saying, “O my Master,” preferring instead, “O my Lord,” because this is how the prophets and others supplicated, as Allah has related in the Quran.

The same applies to the name “the Bestower.” In the hadith narrated by the compilers of the Sunan, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, heard a man supplicating:

“O Allah, I ask You by virtue of the fact that dominion belongs to You. You are Allah, the Bestower, the Originator of the heavens and the earth. O Possessor of Majesty and Honour, O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of all!”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“He has indeed called upon Allah by His Greatest Name, by which, when He is invoked, He answers, and when He is asked, He gives.”

This refutes the claim of those who allege that “the Bestower” cannot be among His names.

Imam Ahmad, may Allah be pleased with him, said to a man who was bidding him farewell: “Say: ‘O Guide of the bewildered, guide me to the path of the truthful and make me one of Your righteous servants.’”

A group of speculative theologians, such as al-Qādī Abū Bakr and Abū al-Wafā ibn Aqīl, denied that al-Dalīl (the Guide) was among His names, because they thought that dalīl