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If you are in need, turn to the Eternal Refuge. If you are in a humble and humiliating position, knock on the door of the Eternal Refuge. If weakness creeps into your body, seek strength from the Eternal Refuge.
Indeed, He is the One God and the Refuge upon Whom all creatures depend.
He is the owner of the beautiful names and sublime attributes, and He is the companion of those who feel lonely.
Allah’s name “As-Samad” seldom occurs and is rarely mentioned, yet it enjoys special magnificence.
Allah Almighty says: {Say: “He is Allah, the Only One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He has not begotten and has not been begotten. And there is none like unto Him.”} [Surat al-Ikhlās: 1-4]
It is our Lord upon whom all creatures, humans and jinn, depend. Indeed, the entire world and all that it contains turn to Him for the fulfillment of desires and take refuge in Him from disasters.
Our Lord is the Master with perfect glory, honor, majesty, forbearance, and self-sufficiency. These attributes belong to the Almighty Lord alone.
Our Lord has no hollow and He does not eat or drink, and He provides others with food. He stands in no need for others, yet all else do need Him. There is none like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
In a Hadīth that was mentioned by Al-Bayhaqi and graded as Hasan (sound) by Al-Hāfizh, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: “The Jews came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘O Muhammad, name for us the lineage of your Lord Who has sent you.’ So, Allah Almighty revealed: {Say: “He is Allah, the Only One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He has not begotten and has not been begotten. And there is none like unto Him.”} [Surat al-Ikhlās: 1-4]
It is a short Surah that comprises Allah’s attributes of perfection and majesty.
Given the greatness of this Surah, its recitation is like reciting one third of the Qur’an. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to his Companions: “‘Is anyone of you unable to recite one third of the Qur’an in one night?’ They said: ‘How could anyone recite one third of the Qur’an?’ He said: ‘Surat al-Ikhlās equals one third of the Qur’an.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim; this is the wording of Muslim]
Some scholars said: “The Qur’an was revealed in three parts: one third is about the rulings, another is about the promise and threat, and the last third is about the names and attributes of Allah. Surat al-Ikhlās comprises one of those thirds, i.e. the names and attributes of Allah. Hence, the reward of its recitation is made equivalent to the reward of reciting one third of the Qur’an.”
A Companion used to recite Surat al-Ikhlās in all the prayers in which he led his companions. So, they mentioned that to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) who said: “Ask him why he does that.” They asked him and he said: “Because it comprises the attributes of the Most Compassionate, and I like to recite it.” Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Tell him that Allah Almighty loves him.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]
Love within the hearts of the righteous drives them to look for the love of their Lord.
This love within their hearts is only satisfied by bowing to Allah Almighty, circumambulating His House, standing before Him in prayer, getting up from sleep for His sake, and sacrificing one’s soul in His cause.
Lovers’ hearts feel tranquil only upon remembering Him and their souls will be calm only when they see Him.
If we fall ill, we get cured by remembering You; and when we fail to remember You at times, we suffer a setback.
Those people turn to Him at times of prosperity, and He helps them at times of hardship. The more they turn to and rely upon Him, the more He helps and elevates them.
For example, Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) went through several afflictions, and as a result Allah Almighty raised his rank and he, thus, deserved to be the intimate friend of the Almighty Lord. Allah Almighty said: {...And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 125]
Another example is Ayyūb (Job) (peace be upon him) who suffered the severest afflictions and illness. He turned to his Lord, saying: {My Lord, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.} [Surat al-Anbiyā’: 83] Response came from the Eternal Refuge, Blessed and Exalted, Who said: {So We responded to him and removed the adversity that afflicted him...} [Surat al-Anbiyā’: 84]
And Yūnus (Jonah) (peace be upon him), as he was in the whale’s belly in three layers of darkness, he turned to his Lord saying: {...There is no god but You; Exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers. So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.} [Surat al-Anbiyā’: 87-88]
This was the case with all prophets and pious people. They knew Allah at times of ease, so He knew them at times of hardship.
Moreover, our Lord, the Eternal Refuge, has opened His door not only to His pious servants but to all creation.
This stems from His kindness, mercy, and bounty. When the polytheists went into trouble and faced sure death, they resorted to Allah Almighty and called out: O Allah, O Allah! And behold! He saved them. {And when they board a ship, they supplicate Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, at once they associate partners with Him.} [Surat al-‘Ankabūt: 65]
They acknowledge this fact. If the whole creation do not resort to Allah Almighty willingly, they will do so under the compulsion of necessity.
Allah Almighty responded to the call of the desperate disbelievers. So, what about those who believed in Him as the One true God and in Muhammad as His Prophet?!
If you have any need or are in distress, turn to Him and call out: O Lord, O the Eternal Refuge, remove my distress!
So, do not be disturbed much by distress, illness, or debt. Your Lord is the Eternal Refuge. If you turn to Him, He will not let you down. Remember that the best form of worship is to wait for relief from the Almighty Lord. Indeed, nothing remains as it is; things must change. We do not know what lies ahead; and indeed ease comes with hardship.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) entered the mosque and heard a man supplicate Allah and say: “Allāhumma inni as’aluka ya Allāh Al-Ahad As-Samad al-ladhi lam yalid wa lam yūlad wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad an taghfir li dhunūbi innaka anta Al-Ghafūr Ar-Rahīm (O Allah, I ask You, O Allah, the One, the Eternal Refuge, Who has not begotten nor was He begotten, and there is none like unto Him, to forgive my sins. Indeed You are the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful).”
Thereupon, he said: “He has been forgiven, he has been forgiven, he has been forgiven.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Sahīh (authentic)]
Another narration reads: “You have implored Allah by the name which when asked therewith, He gives, and when supplicated therewith, He answers.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Sahīh (authentic)]
My Lord, I seek Your mercy and refuge.
I pursue nothing but Your pleasure; so answer my supplication.
I call Your name, my Lord, and implore You.
If You do not answer my supplication, who will respond to my crying?
You are the All-Generous; so do not leave me stray.
I got tired of being so distant from You,
and I now implore You and turn to You,
in humiliation and humbleness; so do not turn down my invocation.
O Allah, the One and Only God, the Eternal Refuge, I ask You Paradise and the words and deeds that bring one closer to it, and I seek refuge in You from Hellfire and from the words and deeds that bring one closer to it.