One of the important Attributes of Allāh, The
Magnificent in His Majesty, is “Al-Ṣamad”. Similar to water which fills the entire
ocean; or air, light, or warmth which fill the entire space, the “Essence (ذات)” of Allāh, the Exalted, fills up all worlds,
and all galaxies. For the first few examples there is boundary and limitation. But the last example is free of any
periphery. This is one of the meanings
of al-Ṣamad. How can possibly be any
equal for One who is al-Ṣamad, i.e. fills all possible corners of existence? There will be nothing left for the rule of a
partner.
Allāh’s dominance has no boundary or limit. To make a simple example, you can find many
countries and rulers on this earth, just because each one of them is limited to
its boundary. Imagine a country without
any boundary on this earth. Is there any
room left for the existence of another country, and ruler? This is why the Glorious Qur’an emphasizes on
the Oneness of Allāh, in many different ways, very frequently.
Another meaning of al-Ṣamad is fullness; not
being hollow, or having a cavity. It
stands for indiscrete, i.e. continuous, indiscernible, comprehensive and
contiguous. Nothing can be parted from
it, and nothing can be added to it.
Therefore, Allāh, the Ṣamad, is One contiguous, comprehensive Being that
solely dominates the entire creation, forever.
This meaning of al-Ṣamad also points to the fact that nothing is parted
from Allāh as an offspring. He is One and remains One single Being,
undivided. Another meaning of al-Ṣamad
is “needless”. Allāh is Self-Sufficient,
and does not need anything, particularly a partner. He introduces Himself with many attributes
that point to His needlessness, one of which is al-Ṣamad.
Another
meaning of al-Ṣamad is “Full”. Consider
how many created beings in all worlds, throughout millions of years have been,
and will be fed, and provided for, by Allāh, the Ṣamad. This is incredible! He has unlimited supply of foodstuff,
minerals, water, land, energy, air, light, knowledge, mercy and so forth, to
last forever:
They [the Hypocrites] are the ones who say, “Do not spend on
those who are with the Rasūl
of Allah until they scatter off.”
However, to Allah belong the treasuries of the heavens and the earth,
but the hypocrites do not understand.
Sūrah Al-Munāfiqūn (63) Āyah
7
Allāh has
an “I.D. Card” in the Glorious Qur’an and that is the Sūrat al-’Ikhlāṣ (also called al-Tawḥīd). With the above-mentioned material, we can now
understand the significance of this very short but important Surah:
Surah- 112
Al-’Ikhlāṣ (at-Tawḥīd) The Purity In Oneness Of Allāh (The
Essence Of Monotheistic Conviction)
In The Name Of Allāh , The-Globally-Merciful-To-All (Ar-Raḥmān),
The-Lovingly-Merciful-To-The-Pious (Ar-Raḥīm).
Say, “He, Allāh
is ONE! 1 ۞
Allah is the Ṣamad (All-embracing).
2۞
He neither begat,
nor was begotten, 3 ۞
And no one is on
a par with Him.” 4 ۞
- Immaculate is Allāh, and greatly Exalted to
have partner, companion, alike, equivalent, spouse, offspring, peer, and so
forth. He has created everything by
Himself. He is Self Sufficient; to whom belongs the sovereignty of the heavens
and the earth. What does He need a
partner, or offspring for?