is evidence of the cause that necessarily produces it.

Al-Samad signifies a perfection beyond what is conveyed by sayyid (master) alone. Hence Ibn ‘Abbās said: “He is the Master, perfect in His mastery.” Do you not see that the poet said, “You are the master, al-samad,” and “with the master, al-samad”? If the two words were synonymous, this would be repetition.

As for the hadith he related from Ibn ‘Abbās from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he did not mention its chain of transmission. It is false and has no basis as a report from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); it has, however, been reported from Ibn ‘Abbās.

The word sayyid also conveys the sense of being gathered together, as does the word samad. It is said: “Sawād (blackness) is the colour that concentrates vision, whereas white is the colour that disperses it.” The forbearing person is called a sayyid because he is composed