Flattery does not necessarily mean expressing verbal affection and kindness that one does not feel in one’s heart. The term can also include expressing friendship, affection and kindness that accord with what one truly feels.
As for God’s very essence, even the utmost praise and expression of affection and love of which all creation is capable would not be worthy of His presence. Indeed, it would fall far short even of describing His signs.
The “flattery” referred to in the supplication below is, in truth, an expression of the reverence due to servitude before God Most High. It means: “O my God and Beloved, even if You punish me, my heart will not turn away from Your sacred essence, nor will I cease for a moment to express my love for You.”
يا إلهی و سیدی و مولای و ربی صبرت على عذابک فکیف أصبر على فراقک و هبنی صبرت على حر نارک فکیف أصبر عن النظر إلى کرامتک أم کیف أسکن فی النار و رجائی عفوک
O my God, my Master, my Lord, my Sustainer! If I can bear Your punishment, how could I bear separation from You? Even if I could endure the heat of Your Fire, how could I bear being denied the sight of Your generosity? And how could I dwell in the Fire while hoping for Your forgiveness?
إلهی إن أخذتنی بجرمی أخذتک بعفوک و إن أخذتنی بذنوبی أخذتک بمغفرتک و إن [إذا] أدخلتنی النار أعلمت أهلها أنی أحبک
O my God, if You take me to account for my offence, I will appeal to Your pardon; if You take me to account for my sins, I will appeal to Your forgiveness. And if You cast me into the Fire, I will tell its inhabitants that I love You.
[ملق]
Amlaqa (إملاقا): to fall into poverty and need. Malaqtu the garment (ملقا), from the verb pattern of *qatala*: I washed it. Malaqtuhu (ملقا) and malaqtu lahu can also mean: I showed him affection and sought his favour; the latter is from the verb pattern of *taʿiba*. One likewise says tamallaqtu lahu.
*Al-Miṣbāḥ al-Munīr*, vol. 2, p. 579
Al-malaq, with a fatḥa on the mīm, means affection and kindness; it can also mean giving someone, in speech, what one does not feel in one’s heart. The verb follows the pattern of *fariḥa*. At times, however, *malaq* and *tamalluq* are used to mean showing affection, kindness and humility that accord in the heart with what is expressed by the tongue.
Hence the phrase: “I call upon You out of fear and hope, and in loving devotion.”
*Majmaʿ al-Baḥrayn*, vol. 5, p. 237