Understanding Salat — Page 56
Understanding S al A t 56 The names of Allah signify His reality. The more we under- stand those names, the more we will be able to see His beau- ties. That is why they are tab a rak, which means ‘blessed’ and ‘abundant in good’ ( Lane’s Lexicon, Root: برك , Entry: تبارك ). Each name of Allah conveys knowledge of a beauty of Allah Almighty. When we say ‘blessed is Your name’ ( َ تَبَارَك َ اسْمُك ), we say that each name of Allah is an abundant and everlast- ing good that always continues increasing. We remind our- selves that the names of Allah are the only way we can know Him, and the more we understand them, the more of His beauty we will be able to see. Tab a raka also means that ‘one looks for a blessing by means of [uttering] his name’ ( Lane’s Lexicon, Root: برك , Entry: تبارك ). When we pray to Allah Almighty by looking for bless- ings through the name of Allah that is relevant to that prayer, then the prayer becomes filled with blessings. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran, Say, ‘Call upon Allah or call upon Ra h m a n; by which- ever name you call Him, His are the most beautiful names. ’ (17:110) In commentary, Hadrat Mu s le h Mau‘ ū d ra explained that every objective has a relevant name of Allah Almighty which we should pray by means of. When we need something Invoking the name of Allah