even if people do not gather around him, as Tarafa said:

“They restrain folly in their assembly,
And they too are men of steadfast forbearance.”

The seventh point: Let us grant that samad means that towards which servants turn inwardly—that is, what they seek—as when one says, “Turn towards this matter,” meaning, “Make it your aim.” Such turning consists of supplication, petition, and request. This takes place only through people’s hearts and inner selves, and through their hands, faces, and other outward parts of their bodies. Yet this is impossible unless the one sought is in a direction relative to them. If they do not know where someone is, nor know him to be in a direction, their hearts and their various bodily members cannot turn towards him. He therefore cannot be samad.

This is why those among the various nations who supplicate to Allah and turn towards Him find in their hearts necessary knowledge that they are turning upwards, as has already been established. And if that is