As-Samad
The Eternal Refuge
He is the Master with perfect glory; to Whom all creatures turn for support and fulfillment of all their needs.

He provides all with sustenance, and none provides for Him. This great name occurs only once in the Qur’an in Sūrat Al-Ikhlās: (Say, “He is Allah, the Only One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge.) It also occurs in the Sunnah.

Buraydah reported from his father that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) heard a man saying, “O Allah, I implore You by virtue of my testimony that You are Allah, there is no god but You, the Only One, the Eternal Refuge, Who has not begotten and has not been begotten, and none is like Him.” Thereupon, the Prophet said, “You have implored Allah by the name by which when asked, He gives, and by which when supplicated, He answers.”28

In light of this noble name, I would say:
1. This name denotes the perfection of Allah Almighty in His glory, wisdom, mercy as well as other28 (Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi) attributes, and this inspires within one’s heart glorification and love for Him.
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2. We should invoke and rely upon none but Allah Almighty, for only He has the power to fulfill all our needs.

3. Implore Allah Almighty by His name ‘the Eternal Refuge’, and know that He opens the door and sends unexpected blessings to those who are sincere to Him.

4. If people realized the meaning of Allah’s name ‘the Eternal Refuge’, we would not see in our Muslim world people who go around graves and invoke those buried or seek their intercession.

But unfortunately, this happens because many people are ignorant and there are a few people who spread ignorance regarding such shrines because they benefit from them.

Meanwhile, they take it lightly that people associate partners with Allah Almighty Who addresses the best human being by saying, (and that mosques belong to Allah, so do not invoke anyone with Him.) (Sūrat Al-Jinn: 18) He also says, (Say, “Surely neither it is in my power to hurt you nor to bring you to the Right Way.) (Sūrat Al-Jinn: 21)
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