Allah is Self-Sufficient and Free from Need of His Creation
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (20)
One of the key aspects of this grand narrative is that Allah Almighty did not create the creation to seek companionship from loneliness, to increase His numbers from scarcity, or to strengthen Himself from weakness. He is self-sufficient and independent of His creation, while they are in constant need of Him in all their states. He is The Mighty, The Praiseworthy.
Among the beautiful names of Allah is “The Self-Sufficient”, which is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an eighteen times; sometimes alone, as Allah Almighty said: {They have said, "Allah has taken a son." Exalted is He; He is the [one] Free of need.} [Yunus: 68]. And sometimes combined with His name “The Praiseworthy” - which is the most common - as in His saying: {O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.} [Fatir: 15], and His saying: { And whoever turns away - then indeed, Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.} [Al-Hadid: 24]. And sometimes it is coupled with His name ''The Most Generous'' as in His saying: {And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."} [An-Naml: 40]. And sometimes it is coupled with His name “The Forbearing”, as in His saying: {Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing.} [Al-Baqarah: 263].
Al-Khattabi said: “The Self-Sufficient” is the One who is independent of creation and their support for His dominion. He has no need for them, while they are impoverished and in need of Him. As He described Himself: {and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy.} [Muhammad: 38]. Shaykh Al-Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) commented on the verse: {O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.} [Fatir: 15], saying that Allah is inherently Rich, possessing complete and absolute wealth from all perspectives and considerations due to His perfection and the perfection of His attributes. His richness is an essential characteristic of His being, just as He is necessarily The Creator, The All-Powerful, The Total Provider, and The Benefactor. He does not need anyone in any way. He is the Rich, with the treasures of the heavens and the earth, and the treasures of this world and the Hereafter in His possession. He enriches all His creation in a general sense, and He enriches the special among them with divine knowledge and the truths of faith. Allah Almighty is the absolute Rich, needing no one, while everyone is in need of Him.
Episode references:
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 160-162.
- The Story of Creation, Al-Kharaan, previous reference, p. 22.
- Tayseer Al-Kareem Al-Rahman in the interpretation of the words of Al-Mannan, Al-Saadi, previous reference, 5/629.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
