and whom they seek in times of need and calamity. The basic meaning of samd is to turn toward something. A man is told to head in so-and-so’s direction—that is, to direct himself that way.’”

I say: The purpose here is to mention the statements of the early generations concerning the meaning of al-Samad. As for the claim made by some later scholars that linguistic derivation supports only the interpretation that He is the Master, we shall show that this is among the most untenable claims. Rather, linguistic usage and derivation lend stronger support to the interpretation expressed by the majority of the Companions and Successors. Nonetheless, all these meanings are true: the name encompasses them all, and linguistic usage and derivation support them.

The third point is that this interpretation is established on the authority of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This becomes clear in two ways. First, through reports transmitted from him by particular individuals, as mentioned earlier. Second, it is well known that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would tell the Muslims of the excellence of this surah and that it is equivalent to one-third of the Quran. He even instructed them to