and union. Rather, he meant that Allah conveyed these words to you through His Messenger and informed you that He hears (1) the supplication of whoever praises Him. So praise Him yourselves and say, “Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise,” so that Allah may hear your supplication; for praising Allah before supplicating is a cause of the supplication being answered.

This is a well-known manner of speaking. A sender says to his messenger, “Say such and such on my behalf.” The messenger says to the one who sent him, “I said such and such on your behalf.” The sender likewise says, “I said such and such to you through my messenger (2).”

Allah Most High said:

“It is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation, from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger who then reveals, by His permission, whatever He wills.”

[Surah al-Shūrā: 51]

Thus, when Allah Most High sends an angelic or human messenger with a message, He speaks to His servants through His messenger by means of the message with which He sent him, and thereby makes it clear to them.

As Allah Most High said:

“Allah has informed us about you.”

[Surah al-Tawba: 94]

That is, through His Messenger. He also said:

“When We have recited it, follow its recitation.”

[Surah al-Qiyāma: 18]

And He said:

“We recite to you in truth part of the account of Moses and Pharaoh.”

[Surah al-Qasas: 3]

And He said:

“We relate to you the best of stories by revealing this Quran to you, though before it you were surely among those unaware.”

[Surah Yūsuf: 3]

That recitation, reading, and narration took place through Gabriel, for He—glorified is He—speaks to His servants through a messenger whom He sends, who then reveals, by His permission, whatever He wills. For this reason, it is expressed with the wording