and whose attributes likewise elude comprehension; no tongue can adequately describe Him, nor can any finger point to Him.” It has also been said: “He is the One who has granted His creation no knowledge of Him beyond His name and attribute.”

Al-Junayd is reported to have said:

“He is the One who has given His enemies no way to know Him.”

We shall now mention such statements of the early generations as we have at hand, together with their chains of transmission.

Ibn Abī Hātim related in his Quran commentary:

“My father narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Mūsā ibn Nufay' al-Jurashī narrated to us: 'Abd Allāh ibn 'Īsā—that is, Abū Khalaf al-Khazzāz—narrated to us: Dāwūd ibn Abī Hind narrated to us, from 'Ikrimah, from Ibn 'Abbās, concerning His saying, ‘al-Samad’: he said, ‘Al-Samad is the One to whom all things turn when distress or affliction befalls them.’

Abū Zur'ah narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Tha'labah ibn Sawā' al-Sadūsī narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Sawā' narrated to us: Sa'īd ibn Abī 'Arūbah narrated to us, from Abū Ma'shar, from Ibrāhīm, who said: ‘Al-Samad is the One to whom the servants turn for their needs.’

My father narrated to us: 'Abd al-Rahmān ibn al-Dahhāk narrated to us: Suwayd ibn 'Abd al-'Azīz narrated to us: Sufyān ibn Husayn narrated to us, from al-Hasan, who said: ‘Al-Samad is the Ever-Living, the All-Sustaining, who never passes away.’

My father narrated to us: Nasr ibn 'Alī narrated to us: Yazīd ibn Zuray' narrated to us, from Sa'īd, from Qatādah, from al-Hasan, who said: ‘Al-Samad is the One who remains after His creation.’ This is also Qatādah’s view.

Abū Sa'īd al-Ashajj narrated to us: Ibn Numayr narrated to us, from al-A'mash, from Shaqīq, concerning His saying, ‘al-Samad’: he said, ‘The Master whose mastery has attained its utmost perfection.’