Allah's Uncreated Created Tablet Revisited
- samshmn
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According to Sunni Islam, Allah wrote down in a tablet called al-Lawh al-Mahfuz everything that it would take place in creation fifty thousand years before he actually created the heavens and the earth.
Note what the following prominent Salafi website states:
Aspects of al-qadar
You should also note that belief in al-qadar is not valid unless you believe in the four aspects of al-qadar, which are as follows:
Belief that Allah knows all things, in general terms and in detail, from eternity to eternity. Not a single atom is unknown to Him in the heavens or on earth.
Belief that Allah has decreed all things in al-Lawh al-Mahfuz, fifty thousand years BEFORE He created the heavens and the earth.
Belief that the will of Allah is irresistible and His decree is comprehensive, so nothing happens in this universe, good or bad, but by His will.
Belief that all that exists was created by Allah. He is the Creator of all beings and the Creator of their attributes and actions, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Such is Allah, your Lord! La Ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Creator of all things” [Al-An’am 6:102]…
The status of belief in al-qadar in Islam
Belief in al-qadar is one of the six pillars of faith which were mentioned in the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when Jibril (peace be upon him) asked him about faith (Iman). He said: “(It is) to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in the Divine will and decree (al-qadar) both good and bad.” Narrated by Muslim, 8. Al-qadar is also mentioned in the Quran, where Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine Preordainment of all things before their creation as written in the Book of Decrees Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz).” [Al-Qamar 54:49]
“And the Command of Allah is a decree determined [qadran maqduran].” [Al-Ahzab 33:38]
Aspects of belief in al-qadar
Belief in al-qadar cannot be complete until you believe in the following four aspects of this doctrine:
Knowledge: this is the belief that the knowledge of Allah encompasses all things and not a single atom in the heavens or on earth falls outside of His knowledge. Allah knew all of His creation before He created them. He knew what they would do by means of His ancient and eternal knowledge. There is a great deal of evidence that points to this such as the verses in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” [Al-Hashr 59:22]
“and that Allah surrounds all things in (His) Knowledge.” [Al-Talaq 65:12]
Writing: this is the belief that Allah has written the decrees concerning all created beings in al-Lawh al-Mahfuz. The evidence for that is the verse in which He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz). Verily, that is easy for Allah” [Al-Hajj 22:70]
And the Prophet said: “Allah wrote the decrees concerning all created beings fifty thousand years BEFORE He created the heavens and the earth.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2653)
Will: this is the belief that everything that happens in this universe happens by the will of Allah. Whatever Allah wills happens and whatever He does not will does not happen. Nothing exists outside of His will. The evidence for that is in the verses where Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And never say of anything, ‘I shall do such and such thing tomorrow.’ Except (with the saying), ‘If Allah wills!’” [Al-Kahf 18:23, 24]
“And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allah wills, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” [At-Takwir 81:29]
Creation: this is the belief that Allah is the Creator of all things, including people’s actions. Nothing happens in this universe but He is its Creator, because He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allah is the Creator of all things.” [Al-Zumar 39:62]
“While Allah has created you and what you make.” [Al-Saffat 37:96]
And the Prophet said: “Allah has made every doer and what he does.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari in Khalq Af’al al-‘Ibad (25) and by Ibn Abi ‘Asim in al-Sunnah (257 and 358); classed as sahih by al-Albani in al-Sahihah, 1637)
Shaykh Ibn Sa’di said:
“Just as Allah is the One Who created them – meaning people – He has also created that by means of which they act, namely their abilities and will, then they do various actions of obedience and sin, by the abilities and will which Allah has created.” (Al-Durrah al-Bahiyyah Sharh al-Qasidah al-Taiyyah, p. 18) (Islmqa.com, Al-Qada wal Qadar according to to Ahl al-Sunnah; emphasis mine)
And:
Basics of belief in al-Qadar
Belief in al-qadar is based on four things:
Knowledge, i.e., that Allah knows what His creation will do, by virtue of His eternal knowledge.
Writing, i.e., that Allah has written the destiny of all creatures in al-Lawh al-Mahfuz.
Will, i.e., that what Allah wills happens and what He does not will does not happen. There is no movement in the heavens or on earth but it happens by His will.
Creation and formation, i.e., that Allah is the Creator of all things, including the actions of His slaves. They do their actions in a real sense, and He is the Creator of them and of their actions.
Whoever believes in these four believes in al-qadar.
Reference to Al-Qadar in the Quran
The Quran affirms these things in numerous verses, such as the verses in which He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And with Him are the keys of the Ghayb (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record” [al-An'am 6:59]
“No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allah” [al-Hadid 57:22]
“And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allah wills, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)” [al-Takwir 81:29]
“Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine Preordainment of all things before their creation as written in the Book of Decrees Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz)” [al-Qamar 54:49]
Muslim (2653) narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “Allah wrote down the decrees of creation fifty thousand years BEFORE He created the heavens and the earth.” He said: “And His Throne was upon the water.” (Ibid., Fate in Islam; emphasis mine)
The Dilemma
The problem arises when we take into consideration that these same Sunni Muslims claim that the tablet itself was created by Allah:
Summary of answer
Everything other than Allah is created, such as the Throne, the Kursi and Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh…
Scholarly Consensus on the Creation of Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh
Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh is created, like all other created things. Everything other than Allah is created, such as the Throne, the Kursi and Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh.
This is something obvious, and there is no confusion about it, and no scholarly difference concerning it at all. Everything other than Allah is created by Him and exists after having been non-existent: Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh, the Pen, the Throne, and everything in the heavens and on the earth, and everything in the earth and below the ground, and everything in the entire universe is created by Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
There is nothing confusing about the Quran being written in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh which is created, for we all write the Quran on pages which are also created.
We utter words and write them on paper, but the attribute of speech and words that we possess does not reside in the paper; rather our attributes exist in us. (Islamqa.com, Is Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh Created? )
And:
What Was the First Thing Allah Created?
The majority of scholars are of the view that the Throne was the first thing to be created . Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymin said:
The first thing that Allah created of the things that are known to us was the Throne, and He rose over it (in a manner that befits His Majesty) after He had created the heavens, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): {And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds.} [Hud 11:7] (End quote from Fatawa wa Rasa’il Al-`Uthaymin, 1/62)
The Throne's Creation in Light of the Quran and Sunnah
Al-Bukhari (7418) narrated from `Imran ibn Husayn that some people from Yemen asked the Prophet about how the matter was from the very beginning. He said: “There was Allah and nothing existed before Him, and His Throne was on the water. THEN He created the heavens and the earth, and He wrote in all things in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh .”
According to another report (3191) he said: “There was Allah and nothing existed except Him.”
The Throne of the Most Gracious is part of His creation. He created it BEFORE He created the heavens and the earth and all that is therein. The Hadith quoted above indicates that in the beginning there was nothing except Allah: no Throne and no other created thing. Then He created the Throne, then He created all other created things. (Ibid., What Was the First Thing Allah Created?; emphasis mine)
The hadiths also contradict themselves since certain narrations state that it was the pen which was created first, not the throne:
Belief in al-Qadar includes four things:
The belief that Allah knows all things, in general and in detail, from eternity to eternity, whether that has to do with His actions or the actions of His slaves.
The belief that Allah has written that in al-Lawh al-Mahfuz (the Book of Decrees).
Concerning these two matters Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz). Verily, that is easy for Allah.” [al-Hajj 22:70]
In Sahih Muslim (2653), it is narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Allah wrote down the decrees of creation fifty thousand years BEFORE He created the heavens and the earth.”
And the Prophet said: “The first thing that Allah created was the Pen, and He said to it, ‘Write!’ It said, ‘O Lord, what should I write?’ He said: ‘Write down the decrees of all things until the Hour begins.” Narrated by Abu Dawud, 4700; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud. (Ibid,, What Is Qadar in Islam?)
And:
2155. ‘Abdul-Wahid bin Sulaim narrated: “I arrived in Makkah and met ‘Ata’ bin Abi Rabah. I said to him: ‘O Abu Muhammad! The people of al-Basrah speak about Al-Qadar.’ He said: ‘O my son! Do you recite the Qur’an?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Then recite Az-Zukhruf to me.’” He said: “So I recited: Ha Mim. By the manifest Book. Verily, We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic that you may be able to understand. And verily, it is in the Mother of the Book with Us, indeed exalted, full of wisdom. Then he said: ‘Do you know what the Mother of the Book is?’ I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know better.’ He said: ‘IT IS A BOOK THAT ALLAH WROTE BEFORE He created the Heavens, and before He created the earth. In it, it is (written): Fir‘awn is among the inhabitants of the Fire, and in it is: Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he!’”
‘Ata’ said: ‘I met Al-Walid the son of ‘Ubadah bin As-Samit the Companion of the Messenger of Allah and asked him: “What was your father’s admonition when he died?” He said: “He called me and said: ‘O my son! Have Taqwa of Allah, and know that you will never have Taqwa of Allah until you believe in Allah, and you believe in Al-Qadar – all of it – its good and its bad. If you die upon other than this you shall enter the Fire. Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: “Verily the FIRST of what Allah CREATED was the Pen. So he said: ‘Write.’ It said: ‘Write what?’ He said: ‘Write Al-Qadar, what it is, and what shall be, until the end.’”’”’ (Sahih)
[Abu ‘Eisa said:] This Hadith is Gharib [from this route]. [1]
[1] It appears again, abridged, in number 3319, and he said: “Hasan Sahih Gharib” (English Translation of Jami‘ At-Tirmidhi, Compiled by Imam Hafiz ‘Eisa Mohammad Ibn ‘Eisa At-Tirmidhi, From Hadith no. 1897 to 2605, translated by Abu Khalil (USA), Ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Abu Tahir Zubair ‘Ali Za’i, final review by Islamic Research Section Darussalam [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, First Edition: November 2007], Volume 4, Chapter 17. Signifying The Importance Of Believing In Al-Qadar, pp. 216-217: https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2155; emphasis mine)
Finally:
(and by what they Yastur.) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah all said that this means, “what they write.” As-Suddi said, “The angels and the deeds of the servants they record.” Others said, “Rather, what is meant here is the pen which Allah caused to write the decree when He wrote the decrees of all creation, and this took place fifty-thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.” For this, they present Hadiths that have been reported about the Pen. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Al-Walid bin `Ubadah bin As-Samit that he said, “My father called for me when he was dying and he said to me: ‘Verily, I heard the Messenger of Allah say…
<<Verily, the FIRST of what Allah CREATED was the Pen, and He said to it: “Write.” The Pen said: “O my Lord, what shall I write?” He said: “Write the decree and whatever will throughout eternity.”>>’” This Hadith has been recorded by Imam Ahmad through various routes of transmission. At-Tirmidhi also recorded it from a Hadith of Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi and he (At-Tirmidhi) said about it, “Hasan Sahih, Gharib.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Q. 68:1: http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Al-Qalam/The-Explanation-of-the-Pen-Con---; emphasis mine)
Suffice it to say, these teachings entail believing that Allah had already created the throne, the pen, the tablet, and the water upon which the throne is situated at least fifty thousand years before he even created the creation!
After all, the Quran itself proclaims that the heavens and the earth encompass the entire creation which Allah supposedly brought into existence:
He it is Who created for you all that is on earth. THEN He Istawa (rose over) towards the heaven and made them seven heavens and He is the All-Knower of everything. S. 2:29
Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He Istawa (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Command. Surely, His is the Creation and Commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)! S. 7:54
Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then Istawa (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty), disposing the affair of all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His Leave. That is Allah, your Lord; so worship Him (Alone). Then, will you not remember? S. 10:3
And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds. But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up after death," those who disbelieve would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious magic." S. 11:7
Say (O Muhammad): "Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days and you set up rivals (in worship) with Him? That is the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). He placed therein (i.e. the earth) firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it, and measured therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four Days equal (i.e. all these four 'days' were equal in the length of time), for all those who ask (about its creation).
THEN He Istawa (rose over) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come, willingly."
THEN He completed and finished from their creation (as) seven heavens in two Days and He made in each heaven its affair. And We adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as well as to guard (from the devils by using them as missiles against the devils). Such is the Decree of Him the All-Mighty, the All-Knower. S. 41:9-12
And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six Days and nothing of fatigue touched Us. S. 50:38
It is Allah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven). His Command descends between them (heavens and earth), that you may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah surrounds (comprehends) all things in (His) Knowledge. S. 65:12
The Sunni commentaries agree that the creation of the seven heavens and earths encompass all dimensions of creation, including all angelic beings and their dwelling places. Take, for instance, what Ibn Kathir wrote:
(Say: "Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days And you set up rivals with Him”) meaning, ‘false gods whom you worship alongside Him.’…
(That is the Lord of the that exists.) the Creator of all things is the Lord of all the creatures. Here the Ayah…
(Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days) (7:54). is explained in more detail; the creation of the earth and the creation of the heaven are discussed separately. Allah says that He created the earth first, because it is the foundation, and the foundation should be built first, then the roof. Allah says elsewhere…
(He it is Who created for you all that is on the earth. Then He rose over (Istawa ila) the heaven and made them seven heavens) (2:29). With regard to the Ayat…
(Are you more difficult to create or is the heaven that He constructed He raised its height, and has perfected it. Its night He covers with darkness and its forenoon He brings out (with light). And after that He spread the earth, And brought forth therefrom its water and its pasture. And the mountains He has fixed firmly, (to be) a provision and benefit for you and your cattle.) (79:27-33)
This Ayah states that the spreading out of the earth came after the creation of the heavens, but the earth itself was created before the heavens according to some texts. This was the response of Ibn `Abbas as recorded by Al-Bukhari in his Tafsir of this Ayah in his Sahih. He recorded that Sa`id bin Jubayr said: "A man said to Ibn `Abbas saying: ‘I find some things in the Qur'an which confuse me…
And Allah says…
(Are you more difficult to create or is the heaven that He constructed) until…
(And after that He spread the earth.) (79:27-30) So He mentioned the creation of the heavens before the earth, then He said…
(Say: "Do you verily disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two Days…”) until…
(We come willingly.) Here He mentioned the creation of the earth before the creation of the heavens…
Allah created the earth in two days, then He created the heavens, then He (Istawa ila) the heaven and gave it its shape in two more days. Then He spread the earth, which means that He brought forth therefrom its water and its pasture. And He created the mountains, sands, inanimate things, rocks and hills and everything in between, in two more days. This is what Allah says…
((He) spread (the earth)) (79:30) And Allah's saying…
((He) created the earth in two Days) So He created the earth and everything in it in four days, and He created the heavens in two days…
(verily, Allah (Kana) is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful) (4:23). This is how He described Himself, and this is how He still is. Whatever Allah wills comes to pass, so do not be confused about the Qur'an, for all of it comes from Allah.” This was recorded by Al-Bukhari…
((He) created the earth in two Days) means, on Sunday and Monday…
(He placed therein firm mountains from above it, and He blessed it,) means, He blessed it and gave it the potential to be planted with seeds and bring forth produce…
(And measured therein its sustenance) means, what its people need of provision and places in which to plant things and grow crops. This was on Tuesday and Wednesday, which together with the two previous days add up to four days…
(Then He rose over (Istawa ila) towards the heaven when it was smoke,) i.e., steam which arose from it when the earth was created…
(and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly.”) meaning, ‘respond to My command and be subjected to this action, willingly or unwillingly.’
(They both said: "We come willingly.”) meaning, ‘we will respond to You willingly and everything that You want to create in us -- ANGELS, Jinn and men -- will all be obedient to You.’…
(Then He completed and finished their creation (as) seven heavens in two Days) means, He finished forming them as seven heavens in two more days, which were Thursday and Friday…
(and He decreed in each heaven its affair. ) means, He placed in each heaven whatever it needs of angels and things which are known only unto Him…
(And We adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps) means, the stars and planets which shine on the people of the earth…
(as well as to guard.) means, as protection against the Shayatin, lest they listen to the angels on high. (Tafsir Ibn Kathir: http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Fussilat/Some-Details-of-the-Creation-o---; emphasis mine)
This means that space, place and time itself only came into being when Allah created the seven heavens and seven earths. Prior to that moment there was no space, place or time.
Therefore, how can created objects exist when there was no space or place, or even time itself?
Are we to assume that these created objects are actually spaceless and placeless, and that they actually originated and came out from within Allah’s own essence and being?
We will let the Sunnis try to explain away these incoherent, unintelligible and irrational beliefs.
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