refer to either one alone. Thus, whoever remembers Allah in his heart or with his tongue has remembered Him, but remembering Him with both is more complete. Allah Most High has commanded that His name be glorified and that He be glorified using His name, just as He has commanded that He be invoked by His most beautiful names. He is therefore invoked by His most beautiful names, and His name is glorified. Glorifying His name is glorifying Him, since what is intended by the name is the One named, just as invoking the name is invoking the One named.
Allah Most High says:
“Say: Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever you call upon, to Him belong the most beautiful names.”
Allah Most High sometimes commands that He be remembered and sometimes that His name be remembered, just as He sometimes commands that He be glorified and sometimes that His name be glorified. He says:
“Remember Allah with much remembrance.”
“Remember your Lord within yourself.”
There are many such passages. He also says:
“Remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself wholly to Him.”
Likewise, He says:
“So eat of that over which Allah’s name has been mentioned.”
“Do not eat of that over which Allah’s name has not been mentioned.”
“So eat of what they catch for you, and mention Allah’s name over it.”
Here, however, one says, “In the name of Allah,” thus mentioning the very word “name,” spelled alif, sīn, mīm. By contrast, in response to His words, “Remember the name of your Lord,” one says, “Glory be to Allah,” “Praise be to Allah,” and “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.” This, too, demonstrates the error of those who identify the name with the One named.
His words concerning slaughtered animals,
“So eat of that over which Allah’s name has been mentioned,”
are like His words,
“Recite in the name of your Lord who created,”
and His words,
“In the name of Allah are its course and its anchorage.”
Thus, His words, “Recite in the name of your Lord,” mean reciting “In the name of Allah” at the beginning of the surahs.