2. Prayer through the mediation of Allah’s Personal names
Sometimes we use the personal names of Allah as a kind of mediation to process our petition and to ensure its effectiveness. This form of intermediation has been validated by the Prophet’s own practice and it is supported, inter alia, by a tradition reported by Ibn Mājah. The Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:O my Lord: I beg from You through the means of Your being Allah.[16]
[16]. This sahīh hadith was narrated by Ibn Mājah in his Sunan, b. of du‘ā’ (supplication) ch.9 (2:1267#3857); Abū Dāwūd, Sunan, b. of salāt (prayer) 2:79 (#1493); Tirmidhī, al-Jāmi‘-us-sahīh, b. of da‘awāt (supplications) ch.64 (5:515#3475); Ahmad bin Hambal, Musnad (5:349, 360); and Baghawī in Sharh-us-sunnah (5:37-8#1259-60).
