they seek refuge from. The Most High has told us in His Book of those who sought refuge in His creation, and how their seeking refuge increased them in transgression and wrongdoing. Relating the words of the believing jinn, He says:
72:6 “And there were men among mankind who sought refuge with men among the jinn, thereby increasing them in transgression.”
It is related in Quranic commentary: “When an Arab man in the pre-Islamic era was travelling and night overtook him in a deserted land, he would say, ‘I seek refuge with the master of this valley from the evil of the foolish ones among his people.’ He would then spend the night in safety under their protection until morning.” That is, by seeking refuge with their chiefs, humans increased the jinn in transgression, sin, and evil. They would say, “We have become masters of mankind and jinn.” In Arabic usage, rahaq means sin and engaging in forbidden acts. Through this seeking of refuge, humans thus emboldened them to indulge in forbidden pride and self-aggrandizement, so that they imagined they had become masters of mankind and jinn.
Ahl al-Sunnah argued against the Mu‘tazilah that Allah’s words are uncreated, citing the Prophet’s seeking refuge with the words:
“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah.”
He—peace and blessings be upon him—would never seek refuge in anything created. Similar evidence is found in his words:
“I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath, and in Your pardon from Your punishment.”
This shows that His pleasure and pardon are among His attributes and are uncreated. Likewise, he said:
“I seek refuge in Allah’s might and power.”
And:
“I seek refuge in the light of Your Face, by which the darkness is illuminated.”
Whatever the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—sought refuge in is uncreated, for he sought refuge only in Allah or in one of His attributes.
In these two surahs, refuge is sought through the names “Lord,” “Sovereign,” and “God.” His lordship is mentioned in relation to daybreak and to mankind. The attributes with which He describes Himself in these two surahs must be most clearly and fittingly suited to the refuge being sought, and must entail the warding off of the evil from which refuge is sought.
We have established in several places that Allah, glorified be He, is to be invoked by His most beautiful names. For each request, He is therefore asked by a name that is appropriate to it and entails its fulfillment.
The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said of these two surahs:
“No one has ever sought refuge with anything like them.”
Thus, the name by which refuge is sought must