God does not resemble the Creation
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
The
belief that Allâh, ta`âlâ, exists without a place is the creed of the
Messenger of Allâh MuHammad, the Companions, and those who graciously
followed them, and the creed of all prophets from Adam `alayhi ssalâm.
Allâh said in the Qur’ân, in Surat Ash-Shura, ayah 11:
{ لَيْسَ كمثلهِ شىءٌ وهوَ السَّميعُ البصيرُ }
which means: « There is absolutely nothing like Allâh whatsoever, and He has the attributes of Hearing and Seeing. »
This ayah absolutely clears Allâh of resembling the creations. It
comprises that Allâh, ta`âlâ, is absolutely different from the creations
in the Self, Attributes, and Actions. Hence, it shows that Allâh,
ta`âlâ, exists without a place, because whatever exists in a place is,
by nature, i.e., composed of particles, i.e., it is a body, occupying a
space. Allâh, ta`âlâ, is clear of occupying spaces.
Al-Bukhariyy, al-Bayhaqiyy and Ibn al-Jarud related that the Messenger of Allâh MuHammad said:
« كان الله ولم يَكُنْ شَىءٌ غَيْرُهُ »
which means: « Allâh existed eternally and nothing else existed. »
This Hadîth proves that only Allâh existed without a beginning, i.e.,
before creating any of the creation. There was nothing with Allâh: no
place, no space, no sky, no Earth, no light, and no darkness. It is
determined in the rules of the Religion and the judgments of the sound
mind that Allâh, the Exalted, does not change. Hence, it is impossible
that after having been existing without a place, Allâh will change and
dwell in a place, because this is a development. The development is a
sign of needing others, and the one who needs others is not God.
Imam
Abu ManSûr al-Baghdadiyy related in his book, Al-Farqu Baynal-Firaq,
that Imam `Aliyy, the fourth of the caliphs, may Allâh reward his deeds,
said:
« كان الله ولا مكان، وهو الآن على ما عليه كان »
which means: « Allâh existed eternally and there was no place, and He now is as He was [without a place]. »
Imam Abu Hanifah, who is one of the authorities of Salaf, said in his book Al-Fiqh al-Absat: « Allâh
existed eternally and there was no place. He existed before creating
the creation. He existed, and there was no place, creation, or thing. He
is the Creator of everything. »
Imam AHmad Ibn Salamah, Abu Ja`far at-Tahawiyy, who was born in the year 237 after Hijrah said in his book:
« تَعَالى عن الحُدُودِ والغَاياتِ والأَركانِ والأَعضَاء والأَدَوَاتِ لا تَحوِيهِ الجِهَاتُ السّتُّ كَسَائِرِ المُبْتَدَعَاتِ »
which means: « Allâh
is supremely clear of all boundaries, extremes, sides, organs, and
instruments. The six directions do not contain Him, for these are
attributed to all created things. » Such is the saying of Imam Abu
Ja`far who is among the heads of Salaf. Abu Ja`far explicitly stated
that Allâh is clear of being contained by the six directions. The six
directions are above, below, ahead, behind, right, and left.
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