Introduction

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Praise be to Allah, the High, the Praiseworthy; the Initiator of Eternity and its Restorer; the Ancient, the First; the Creator who does whatever He wills. He is the Cause of Causes, the Initiator of the movements of nations, and the One to whose worship the masters of laws and religions have called. No fixed term precedes Him, and no hope escapes Him. He is the Living, the Sustainer—neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. The Eternal, the Everlasting; a pearly Living One; a Knower not by acquired information; an eternal, manifest, and powerful One before whom all goals fall short.

He is the Manifest through signs, the speaker through all created beings; the God of gods, unified by all tongues and languages. The One in His eternity, exalted above any likeness or peer; the Singular in His ancientness, transcendent beyond the encompassment of doubt or conscience. The Eternal Refuge (al-Ṣamad) who has no partner in sovereignty nor any minister; the Self-Sufficient in His might, beyond any helper or supporter. He is the Namer of Names, the Maker of mortals, the Creator of things; Lord of the high heavens and the lowly earths; Possessor of what is seen and what is unseen. He is the Hearer of the secret and the private counsel, the Remover of harm and affliction.