Question:
Assalam Alekum,
I have two questions which are connected to each other.
1)What is the difference between azalijun (pre eternal) and qadimijun (ancient)? It has been said by some scholars that qadimijun is after azalijun, but how could it be after if there is no time in Divinely Presence.
For instance they say the essence of Allah is azalijun and the nuur of Allah is qadimijun, because you first need to have the essence and then after comes the rest connected to the essence.
And if we look at the word Al Gaaliq (the Creator), it is azalijun, does it make the creation also azali, with no beginning, because you need to create first to be a creator?
2) Was there before Laailaha illahlah Muhammadurasululah, only laailaha illah lah, or does laailaha illallah Muhammadurasululah have no beginning?
Thank you!
Wassalam
Answer:
`Alaykum as-Salam,
There is no “before” or “after” when describing the Names and Attributes. Azal denotes beginninglessness whereas qidam only denotes antiquity, hence azali is more precise as a word for pre-eternity whereas qidam may or may not denote it depending on context. Hence the texts of doctrine describe Allah not only as being qadim but “qadim bila ibtida’” meaning ancient without beginning, and that is the meaning of azali. Both the Essence and Attributes of Allah Most High are certainly azali and qadim bila ibtida’ in the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama`a. On the other hand, “azali is more general than qadim” (Iji, Mawaqif) because the former can be used for the non-existence of contingencies (i`dam al hawadith) whereas the latter can only be used for existent things.
Allah Most High is al-Khaliq from all eternity, independently of creation being or not being in existence. “He was All-Knowing when there was nothing to be known; All-Powerful when there was no object of power; All-Seeing when there was nothing to be seen; All-Sustaining when there was nothing to be sustained; Creator when there was nothing created” (Ibn Khafif, `Aqida).
As for the shahada, it is in the Qur’an and is Divine Speech which, as we just said of all the Attributes, has no beginning.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
