Notice that the name "Allah" reappears here — you could have said "Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad, As-Samad" — but to emphasize these two names, the name of Allah is mentioned before each of them: "Allahu Ahad" and "Allahu As-Samad." This is the only time in the entire Quran that both "Al-Ahad" and "As-Samad" occur, and each one appears after the name "Allah" for emphasis.
What is the meaning of "As-Samad"? There are three or four classical opinions:
First, Qatada said: "As-Samad is the being that has no inner vacuum — there is nothing inside of this being." This interpretation arose because of that chieftain from Najd who asked "Is your Lord made of copper? Is your Lord made of wood?" — so "As-Samad" negates that: there is nothing inside, no created entity that you are worshipping.
Second, As-Samad is the one who does not eat or drink.
Third, As-Samad is the one who has perfected all aspects of leadership.
Fourth — and this is the strongest interpretation — As-Samad is the one whom the hearts turn to at times of distress. When you are worried, when you are in a severe situation, when you see death or drowning or sickness, when your loved ones are about to die — what happens? Even the disbeliever discovers Allah at that time. Even the atheist at that point says "Oh God, save me." This is As-Samad: the one you turn to when all avenues are cut off. Your heart automatically turns to Allah.
And the one whom you turn to must be all-perfect — so He does not eat or drink, He has no internal organs (as Qatada said), He is not makhluq (created) but rather the Khaliq (Creator). So the most precise meaning of As-Samad is: the one whom the hearts turn to at times of distress.
Among the categories of the names of Allah is a genre where two names occur together in the Quran, and each one indicates a perfection: the first indicates an internal perfection of Allah, and the second indicates the perfection of Allah's relationship with His creation.
For example: Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum. "Al-Hayy" goes back to Allah — His life is perfect. "Al-Qayyum" refers to Allah's relationship with creation — He sustains all of it. Another example: Al-Ghani Al-Karim. "Al-Ghani" — Allah needs no one. "Al-Karim" — everyone needs Him.
Similarly, "Al-Ahad" and "As-Samad" form such a pair. "Al-Ahad" — Allah is perfect and unique in His own attributes. "As-Samad" — all of creation must turn back to Allah. The first is about the Creator in Himself; the second is about the relationship of the creation with the Creator.
Tafsir of "Allahu As-Samad" — 15:08
Notice that the name "Allah" reappears here — you could have said "Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad, As-Samad" — but to emphasize these two names, the name of Allah is mentioned before each of them: "Allahu Ahad" and "Allahu As-Samad." This is the only time in the entire Quran that both "Al-Ahad" and "As-Samad" occur, and each one appears after the name "Allah" for emphasis.
What is the meaning of "As-Samad"? There are three or four classical opinions:
First, Qatada said: "As-Samad is the being that has no inner vacuum — there is nothing inside of this being." This interpretation arose because of that chieftain from Najd who asked "Is your Lord made of copper? Is your Lord made of wood?" — so "As-Samad" negates that: there is nothing inside, no created entity that you are worshipping.
Second, As-Samad is the one who does not eat or drink.
Third, As-Samad is the one who has perfected all aspects of leadership.
Fourth — and this is the strongest interpretation — As-Samad is the one whom the hearts turn to at times of distress. When you are worried, when you are in a severe situation, when you see death or drowning or sickness, when your loved ones are about to die — what happens? Even the disbeliever discovers Allah at that time. Even the atheist at that point says "Oh God, save me." This is As-Samad: the one you turn to when all avenues are cut off. Your heart automatically turns to Allah.
And the one whom you turn to must be all-perfect — so He does not eat or drink, He has no internal organs (as Qatada said), He is not makhluq (created) but rather the Khaliq (Creator). So the most precise meaning of As-Samad is: the one whom the hearts turn to at times of distress.
The Paired Names of Allah — 17:04
Among the categories of the names of Allah is a genre where two names occur together in the Quran, and each one indicates a perfection: the first indicates an internal perfection of Allah, and the second indicates the perfection of Allah's relationship with His creation.
For example: Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum. "Al-Hayy" goes back to Allah — His life is perfect. "Al-Qayyum" refers to Allah's relationship with creation — He sustains all of it. Another example: Al-Ghani Al-Karim. "Al-Ghani" — Allah needs no one. "Al-Karim" — everyone needs Him.
Similarly, "Al-Ahad" and "As-Samad" form such a pair. "Al-Ahad" — Allah is perfect and unique in His own attributes. "As-Samad" — all of creation must turn back to Allah. The first is about the Creator in Himself; the second is about the relationship of the creation with the Creator.