ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ 2
Translations
Allāh, the Eternal Refuge.
Transliteration
Allahu as-Samad
Tafsir (Explanation)
As-Samad (The Self-Sufficient, The Eternal, The One with no needs) describes Allah's absolute self-sufficiency and independence from creation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this attribute emphasizes that Allah is completely free from need, hunger, sleep, and dependency—unlike all created beings who are utterly dependent upon Him for their existence and sustenance. This ayah establishes the fundamental Islamic doctrine that Allah alone possesses absolute perfection and completeness, requiring nothing from anyone.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ikhlas was revealed in Mecca in response to the pagans' questions about Allah's attributes and genealogy. This ayah directly refutes polytheistic misconceptions by affirming Allah's unique, self-sufficient nature that cannot be compared to created beings or false deities.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most excellent names of Allah are ninety-nine... whoever preserves them shall enter Paradise.' (Sahih Bukhari 2736). Additionally, the Prophet encouraged recitation of Surah Al-Ikhlas, stating it equals one-third of the Quran in reward (Sahih Muslim 814).
Themes
Key Lesson
Understanding Allah as As-Samad cultivates the recognition that all worldly reliance should ultimately rest in God alone, freeing the believer from the anxiety of depending on creation. This knowledge transforms one's relationship with worship from seeking reward or fear of punishment to pure submission based on recognizing Allah's absolute worthiness of devotion.
Related Ayahs
أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَآءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ ٱلْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِى قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ إِلَـٰهَكَ وَإِلَـٰهَ ءَابَآئِكَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
And they worship besides Allāh that which does not possess for them [the power of] provision from the heavens and the earth at all, and [in fact], they are unable.
قُلْ أَتُحَآجُّونَنَا فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ وَلَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُخْلِصُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Do you argue with us about Allāh while He is our Lord and your Lord? For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. And we are sincere [in deed and intention] to Him."
قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allāh." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant.