It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when a man made supplication and said: "O Creator of the heavens without any previous example! O Ever-Living, Sustainer! I ask You." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do you know with what he supplicated? By the One in Whose hand is my soul, he has supplicated to Allah with His Name that when supplication is made with it, He surely accepts it."
Hadith Referenceالادب المفرد / كتاب / 705
Hadith Gradingالألبانی:صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«صحيح : أخرجه أبوداؤد ، كتاب الوتر : 1495 و الترمذي : 3544 و النسائي : 1300 و ابن ماجه : 3885»
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Usman Muneeb
Benefits and Issues: ➊ From this narration, it is understood that one should supplicate to Allah by means of His Names and Attributes, and especially, asking through the Greatest Name (Ism al-A'zam) is a greater cause for acceptance. What is the Greatest Name? There are various opinions regarding this. Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah considered: "Allah, there is no deity except Him, the One, the Self-Sufficient (al-Ahad al-Samad), who neither begets nor is born, and there is none comparable to Him" as the Greatest Name. Imam Shawkani rahimahullah considered "La ilaha illa Huwa al-Hayy al-Qayyum" (There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer) as the Greatest Name. From all the supplications, it is understood that the Greatest Name is the word "Allah," because in all the narrations regarding the Greatest Name, the word "Allah" is common to all. (Sharh Sahih al-Adab al-Mufrad: 4/384)
➋ This is a permissible means (wasilah). In addition to this, asking someone else to supplicate, or presenting righteous deeds as a means, is also permissible. Other than this, self-invented and innovated means—even using the blessed person of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as a means—are also impermissible.
Source: Fadlullah al-Ahad: Urdu Commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, Page: 705