Al-Ghaniyy (The Self-Sufficient)
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:“While Ayyūb (Job) (peace be upon him) was taking a bath naked, golden locusts began to fall on him. Job started collecting them in his clothes.
Thereupon, his Lord addressed him: ‘O Job, have I not given you enough so that you are in no need of what you see now.’ Job replied: ‘Yes, by Your honor, but I cannot dispense with Your blessing.’”
[Narrated by Al - Bukhāri]
People may be given wealth, properties, children, prestige, a high position, leadership, or authority,and a person may be surrounded by servants and soldiers at his command, and people are obedient to him and subject to his authority;nonetheless, everyone still needs Allah Almighty:
{O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy.}
[Surat Fātir: 15]
Our Lord is the Rich and Self-Sufficient, and none is richer than Him at all. All stand in need of Him.
Allah Almighty is Self-Sufficient by His essence, attributes, and power. His self-sufficiency is so complete that He does not need anyone or anything.
It is because of His perfect self -sufficiency that He does not benefit from the worship of His obedient servants or get harmed by the sins of the disobedient ones, even if all humanity were to disbelieve in Him. Allah Almighty says:
{...But whoever disbelieves -then indeed Allah is free from need of the worlds.}
[Surat Ᾱl-‘Imrān: 97]
Another aspect of His perfect self-sufficiency is that He shows benevolence to His servants, intends good for them, and removes harm from them in return for nothing -only mercy and benevolence from Him.
{And your Lord is the Self-Sufficient, the Possessor of mercy...}[Surat al-An‘ām: 133]Another aspect of His perfect self-sufficiency is that He is far Exalted above deficiencies and defects and anything that contradicts His self-sufficiency. For example, He has taken no son or wife, there is no partner with Him in His dominion, He does not need a protector due to we akness, and there is none like or equal to Him. Allah Almighty says:
{And say, “Praise be to Allah Who has not taken a son, nor does He have any partner in His dominion, nor does He need any protector out of weakness. And proclaim His greatness immensely.”}
[Surat al-Isrā’: 111]
Yet another aspect of His complete self-sufficiency is that He commands His servants to supplicate Him and promises that He will answer their supplications:
{And your Lord said: “Call on Me and I will respond to you”...}
[Surat Ghāfir: 60]
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:
“Nothing is more honorable in the sight of Allah Almighty than supplication.”
[Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; Hasan (sound)]
