and dire necessities, because He possesses absolute perfection in His essence, attributes, names and actions1.

The name ‘the Self-Sufficient Master’ has a comprehensive meaning that embraces every explanation given for this noble name. He is the Self-Sufficient Master to whom all creatures turn in humility, need and dependence.

The entire creation seeks refuge in Him. He is perfect in His knowledge, wisdom, forbearance, power, greatness, mercy and all His other attributes.”2

50 – 51 – The Bringer of Harm: (The Bringer of Benefit, the Bringer of Harm)

He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—said: “Some of His most beautiful names may be used individually or together with others; indeed, this applies to most of them. This indicates that Allah possesses the perfection expressed by each name individually, whether two or more names are considered, as well as the perfection expressed by their combination.

Other names of His are used only alongside their counterparts, because the full expression of true perfection lies in combining the two. Such are these names, which relate to His actions proceeding from His unfailing will, perfect power and all-encompassing wisdom. He, Most High, brings religious and worldly benefits to whichever of His servants He wills, and brings harm to those who pursue the causes that entail it. All this accords with His wisdom, the laws He has established in creation, and the causes He has made lead to their effects.

Allah Most High has appointed goals for His creatures and desirable ends in religious and worldly affairs. He has established means and paths leading to them, commanded that they be followed, and made them exceedingly easy for His servants. Whoever follows them will be led to the beneficial goal. But whoever abandons them, abandons some of them, fails to pursue them fully, or