“Peace be upon Allah before His servants.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Allah is al-Salām (the Source of Peace). When one of you sits, let him say: ‘All greetings, prayers, and good things belong to Allah.’”

He thereby indicated that peace is sought only for those who need it. Allah is the Source of Peace, so peace is sought from Him, not for Him. Rather, He is praised, for praise belongs to Him. Thus one says: “All greetings, prayers, and good things belong to Allah.” The True One, glory be to Him, is praised and petitioned, whereas supplications are made on behalf of created beings. Thus one says:

“Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah’s righteous servants.”

Allah Most High says:

“I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. I desire no provision from them, nor do I desire that they should feed Me.”

Provision encompasses everything that benefits its recipient. A person is provided with food, drink, clothing, and whatever benefits him through his hearing, sight, and sense of smell. He is also provided with what benefits his inner being: knowledge, faith, joy, happiness, strength, light, support, and other things. Allah, glory be to Him, desires no provision from His creation. They can never harm Him, nor can they ever benefit Him. Rather, He is free of all need, while they are in need. And:

“Allah has certainly heard the words of those who said, ‘Allah is poor, while we are rich.’”

He is the One, the Eternal Refuge, who neither begets nor is born, and to whom none is equal.

Likewise, there are disliked forms of supplication, such as supplicating for wrongdoing or the severing of family ties, asking for the ranks of the prophets, or the supplication of the Bedouin who said:

“O Allah, whatever punishment You would inflict upon me in