Introduction to the Con­cept of As-Samad

Servants of Allah, one of Allah’s most profound names, As-Samad, is mentioned in Surah Al-Ikhlas, where Allah describes His oneness and perfection:

“Say, ‘He is Allah, [Who is] One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge (As-Samad). He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.’” (Qur’an 112:1-4).

The name As-Samad en­compasses the idea of Allah’s absolute independence and self-sufficiency. Ibn Abbas (RA) explained that As-Samad refers to the one to whom all creation turns in times of need, while He Himself is free from any need (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).

Allah requires no suste­nance, no assistance, and no support in carrying out His plans. Yet all creation—human beings, animals, plants, and even angels—rely entirely on Him for their existence, suste­nance, and success.

Allah’s Independence Demonstrated in Creation

Allah’s independence is evident in the perfection of His creation. He brought the universe into existence with unparalleled mastery. Allah states:

“Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He manages every affair…” (Qur’an 10:3).

The heavens, the earth, the mountains, the seas, and every living creature were created without the assis­tance of anyone. Even the most intricate systems—such as the orbiting of planets, the growth of plants, and the functioning of the human body—operate under Allah’s command.

This is further emphasised in another verse:

“To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatev­er is in the earth. And Allah is free of need, the Praisewor­thy.” (Qur’an 31:26).

Evidence from the Sunnah

The Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad further emphasis­es Allah’s independence and self-sufficiency. In a powerful hadith qudsi, Allah says:

“O My servants, all of you are astray except for those whom I have guided, so seek guidance from Me, and I shall guide you. O My servants, all of you are hungry except for those whom I have fed, so seek food from Me, and I shall feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked except for those whom I have clothed, so seek clothing from Me, and I shall clothe you.” (Muslim, Hadith 2577).

This hadith reflects Allah’s perfection in fulfilling the needs of creation while re­maining independent and unaffected by those needs. Allah’s perfection in providing is limitless, as reflected in another narration:

“Allah’s Hand is full, and it does not diminish by His con­tinuous giving day and night.” (Bukhari, Hadith 4684).

Human Dependence on Allah

Unlike Allah, humans are intrinsically dependent on Him for every aspect of their existence. Allah says:

“O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praise­worthy.” (Qur’an 35:15).

This dependence is not a weakness but a natural state that reminds us to turn to Al­lah in all matters. The Proph­et Muhammad advised his companions to rely on Allah, saying:

“If you ask, ask Allah; if you seek help, seek help from Al­lah.” (Tirmidhi, Hadith 2516).

Believers are encouraged to place their trust in Allah, as He alone controls every affair:

“And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose.” (Qur’an 65:3).

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai,
1BN – Michel Camp

 It is important to under­stand that Christlike love is not self-centred. We live in a culture that promotes a “what’s in it for me” mindset in relationships. But god­ly relationships reflect in a different attitude. Instead of asking, “What can I get out of this relationship?” we should ask, “How can I serve, uplift, and encourage this person?”

Whether in marriage, friendships, or even work relationships, cultivating love means sacrificing our own needs for the sake of others. Christlike love is the glue that holds godly relationships together.

Ask yourself. Am I loving those around me in the way Christ loves me? Am I willing to forgive, serve, and sacrifice for others in our relationships?

If we are truly followers of Christ, love must be at the centre of how we relate to everyone.

2. Godly Relationships Are Built on Trust and Integrity

The second point is that Godly relationships are built on Trust and Integrity. Trust is the bedrock of any healthy relationship, and integrity ensures that this trust is not broken. Without trust, rela­tionships become strained, and eventually, they fall apart.

Proverbs 12:22 says, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.” Trust is earned through honesty, faithfulness, and a commitment to doing what is right. In godly rela­tionships, we are called to be people of our word, to be reli­able, and to act with integrity at all times.

Integrity in a relationship means that we are consistent in our character—we are the same in private as we are in public. It means we are not deceitful, manipulative, or hypocritical. Instead, we are transparent and honest. This applies to all forms of relationships, whether in marriage, friendships, or even professional relationships.

Building trust requires time and intentionality. Do our actions align with our words? Can people depend on us? If we are to maintain godly relationships, we must commit to being trust­worthy and people of integrity.

3. Godly Relationships Re­quire Forgiveness and Grace

No relationship is per­fect because people are not perfect. Conflict, misunder­standings, and offenses are inevitable. But godly relation­ships are maintained through a posture of Forgiveness and Grace.

Ephesians 4:32 instructs us to “Be kind and compassion­ate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

One of the most challenging aspects of maintaining godly relationships is the ability to forgive those who hurt us, intentionally or unintention­ally. Holding onto bitterness or grudges only destroys relationships and erodes our peace.

When we forgive, we imi­tate Christ, who forgave us of our sins even when we were un­deserving. Forgiveness is not about denying that we were wronged, but it is a con­scious decision to release the offense and allow God to heal our hearts.

Moreover, grace is essential. Grace means giving others room to make mistakes, to grow, and to change. We are all on a journey of becoming more like Christ, and grace allows us to see others as God sees them—worthy of love, compassion, and patience.

To be continued!

Stay blessed!

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• By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author