This is why, when “this question” arose among al-Junayd and his companions, he spoke to them of the “second distinction”: distinguishing between what is commanded and what is forbidden, and between what Allah loves and what He hates, while witnessing the all-encompassing divine decree. Thus, one perceives distinctions within that all-encompassing decree.
Whoever does not distinguish between what is commanded and what is forbidden has departed from the religion of Islam. Those who speak of undifferentiated awareness do not abandon the distinctions prescribed by revealed law altogether. If they did, they would be among the worst disbelievers. Such are those who go so far as to place the messengers and others on an equal footing, then proceed to profess the oneness of existence, making no distinction between the Creator and creation. Not all these people, however, reach this heresy. Rather, they distinguish in some respects but not others, sometimes obeying Allah and His Messenger and sometimes disobeying Allah and His Messenger, like other sinners among those who face the qiblah. These matters are discussed at length elsewhere.
The point here is that the terms “invocation” and “supplication” encompass both kinds. Allah Most High says:
“And their final invocation will be, ‘All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.’”
The hadith states:
“The best remembrance is ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,’ and the best supplication is ‘All praise is due to Allah.’”
It was narrated by Ibn Mājah and Ibn Abī al-Dunyā.
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said in the hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhī and others:
“The supplication of my brother Jonah, the Man of the Fish, was: ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except You. Glory be to You! I have indeed been among the wrongdoers.’ No one in distress invokes Allah with it without Allah relieving his distress.”
He called it a “supplication” because it encompasses both kinds of supplication. The words “There is no deity worthy of worship except You” acknowledge Allah’s exclusive right to worship.