and His being worthy of praise entails that He do what merits praise, while the servant’s praise of Him is a cause of his supplication being answered. Hence, the worshipper is instructed to say:

“Allah hears whoever praises Him.”

That is, Allah answers the supplication of whoever praises Him. Hearing here means answering and accepting, as in the Prophet’s words—may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, a heart that is not humble, a soul that is never satisfied, and a supplication that is not heard.”

That is, a supplication that is not answered. Another example is what Abraham, Allah’s intimate friend, said at the end of his supplication:

“Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.”

Likewise, Allah Most High says:

“And among you are those who listen eagerly to them.”

And He says:

“And among the Jews are those who listen eagerly to falsehood, who listen eagerly to other people who have not come to you.”

That is, they accept falsehood and accept what they hear from other people who have not come to you. Hence, the worshipper is instructed to supplicate after praising Allah, following the tashahhud (testimony of faith), which includes praise of Allah, glorified is He.

The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—saw a man praying and supplicating without having praised his Lord or invoked blessings upon His Prophet. He said, “This man has been hasty.” He then called him and said:

“When one of you prays, let him begin by praising and extolling Allah, then invoke blessings upon the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and then supplicate for whatever he wishes.”

This was recorded by Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī, who graded it authentic.

‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd said:

“I was praying while the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was present, with Abū Bakr and ‘Umar beside him. When I sat down, I began by extolling Allah, then invoked blessings upon His Prophet, then supplicated for myself. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, ‘Ask, and you will be granted it.’”

This was narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who graded it good.

Thus, the word “hearing” may mean perceiving sound, or understanding its meaning as well