The Meaning of the Saying of Allah the Exalted: "Allah al-Samad," Its Grammatical Analysis, and the Explanation That Everything Glorifies Allah the Exalted
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : Allah al-Samad. Who can parse this for me? You are weak in grammar. Who can parse "Allah al-Samad"? One, two, three. Please. Not the one behind you. Oh Allah.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, is that right?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Well done. Rest. "Allah al-Samad": "Allah" is the subject (mubtada') and "al-Samad" is the predicate (khabar). Did you understand? No one should say that "al-Samad" is an attribute of the Divine Name, because the intent is to inform about the Lord (Mighty and Majestic) that He is al-Samad. So what is the meaning of al-Samad? There are many interpretations, many interpretations, but the most comprehensive and inclusive is that He is the Perfect in His attributes, to whom all His creations are in need. So He is al-Samad, perfect, not needing food or drink or anything else. And He is also al-Samad to whom the creatures turn for their needs. The creatures turn to Allah for their needs. All the creatures turn to Allah for their needs. When the polytheists are in distress in the depths of the sea and its waves, to whom do they turn? Yes, to Allah.[Al-'Ankabut 29:65] Even the animals take refuge in their Lord. The seven heavens and the earth glorify Him. Allah is the Greatest. [Al-Isra 17:44] Everything is good. If we asked a questioner: Do the stones glorify Allah?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : What is the verse?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh :[Al-Isra 17:44] May Allah bless you.
So, al-Samad. What is the best and most comprehensive interpretation given? Who will answer? Please.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : The Perfect in His attributes, to whom all His creations are in need. (Blessed and Exalted is He). Rest.
Allah, the Self-Sufficient
الله الصمدAllah, the Self-Sufficient
الله الصمدThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, is that right?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Well done. Rest. "Allah al-Samad": "Allah" is the subject (mubtada') and "al-Samad" is the predicate (khabar). Did you understand? No one should say that "al-Samad" is an attribute of the Divine Name, because the intent is to inform about the Lord (Mighty and Majestic) that He is al-Samad. So what is the meaning of al-Samad? There are many interpretations, many interpretations, but the most comprehensive and inclusive is that He is the Perfect in His attributes, to whom all His creations are in need. So He is al-Samad, perfect, not needing food or drink or anything else. And He is also al-Samad to whom the creatures turn for their needs. The creatures turn to Allah for their needs. All the creatures turn to Allah for their needs. When the polytheists are in distress in the depths of the sea and its waves, to whom do they turn? Yes, to Allah.
And when they board a ship, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion
فإذا ركبوا في الفلك دعوا الله مخلصين له الدينand whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise
ومن فيهن وإن من شيء إلا يسبح بحمدهThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : What is the verse?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh :
And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise
وإن من شيء إلا يسبح بحمدهSo, al-Samad. What is the best and most comprehensive interpretation given? Who will answer? Please.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : The Perfect in His attributes, to whom all His creations are in need. (Blessed and Exalted is He). Rest.