| Answer: Dear Mr Sha
assalamu ‘alaykum
The word samad denotes a large rock which is used as a
shelter against enemy attack. The word also began to be used for the leader who
is the shelter and saviour of his people. IN Psalms, God has often been referred
to as a rock:
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
and God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my buckler, and the horn of my
salvation, and my high tower.
I will call up the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so
shall I be saved from mine enemies. (Psalms 18:2&3)
The attribute assamad (the rock which is the shelter and
saviour of all) does not signify indifference on God’s part it refers to be
Being whom one relies on and in whom one reposes one’s trust.
However, there is no doubt about the fact that God does
not need Creation, Creation needs Him. This fact is alluded to by His attributes
ghaniyy (free from Want) and aHad (Alone). The attribute ghaniyy has come in the
Qur’ān with Hamīd to moderate the effect of ghaniyy by indicating that in spite
of being ‘free from all want’, God is also the source of all things worthy of
praise and gratitude. Therefore, we, Hs subjects should never abandon hope in
His benevolence and mercy. Similarly, after aHad (Alone), the attribute assmad
leaves no room for the misconception that God is just the first cause that
created everything and is now indifferent to our needs and requirements. Such
misconceptions can incline a man to other beings for the kind of help one must
ask only God for. In other words, these two attributes (aHad and assmad) tell us
that even though God is Unique and Alone, He is not indifferent to our needs,
for it is He who is the rock which is our shelter.
Regarding your question as to why God created us, we can
ony say that it Is futile and improper to ask questions the answers of which are
definitely beyond our reach, futile because the answers do not relate in any way
to the responsibility life entails and improper because it ill becomes the
beneficiary to demand the reason for his benefactor’s generosity.
Suffices it for us to know that life is a privilege, a
gift from God – a rare chance to earn the everlasting life of bliss. That is
what we should be concerned about, for there is no loss greater than losing this
chance and no success greater than successfully availing oneself of it. May
Allah give us the wisdom and the strength and the courage to avail ourselves of
the opportunity life has afforded us. Amen.
God be with you.
Yours faithfully
Asif Iftikhar
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