“So blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.” [Ghafir: 64]

And He, Most High, says:

“O you who believe, remember Allah often, and glorify Him morning and evening.” [al-Ahzab: 41]

And He, Most High, says:

“Indeed, Allah bestows His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him. O you who believe, invoke blessings upon him and greet him with salutations of peace.” [al-Ahzab: 56]

The Muslims are unanimously agreed that when the caller to prayer says, “I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,” he has affirmed monotheism and acknowledged prophethood. The Mu‘tazilah alone are bound, by their doctrine, to say: “I bear witness that the one whose name is Allah is the only god, and I bear witness that the one whose name is Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” This contradicts what has been established by the Sacred Law and what the Muslims hold.

Likewise, according to them, all these oaths sworn by Allah, Most High, must be by something created; thus people would be swearing by a created thing rather than by the Creator. For, in their view, the name is other than that which it names, and the name is created.

It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would say in his supplication: “In Your name, O Allah, I live and die.” He would seek healing for the sick by saying: “I seek refuge for you in the perfect words of Allah,” and he would invoke protection for Hasan and Husayn with these words. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fell ill, Gabriel invoked this protection for him with them.

Then, according to them, when people say in their supplications, “O Allah, forgive me and have mercy upon me,” it means: “O one whose name is Allahumma (O Allah)—