the predicate of an omitted subject.

As for the wording cited by some jurists and Sufi authors:

“What the servant says is true,”

this is a distortion, as the scholars of hadith and Sunnah unanimously agree. It has no basis in the transmitted reports, and its meaning is also unsound. A servant may speak both truth and falsehood, whereas the Lord, glorified and exalted is He, speaks the truth and guides to the right way. As He, exalted is He, says:

“The truth—and the truth I speak.”

Moreover, prayer is founded solely upon praising Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Muslim and others narrated from ‘Atā’, from Ibn ‘Abbās, may Allah be pleased with them both:

“When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, raised his head from bowing, he would say: ‘O Allah, our Lord, to You belongs all praise, filling the heavens, filling the earth, filling all that is between them, and filling whatever else You will. You are worthy of praise and glory. The truest words a servant has spoken—and we are all Your servants—are: None can withhold what You give, and none can give what You withhold; nor can worldly fortune avail its possessor before You.’”

Muslim and others narrated that ‘Abd Allāh ibn Abī Awfā said:

“When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, raised his head from bowing, he would say: ‘Allah hears those who praise Him. O Allah, our Lord, to You belongs all praise, filling the heavens, filling the earth, and filling whatever else You will.’”

In another narration, Muslim adds after this that he