How to reply to those who deny Allah’s ability to create the impossible?

Fatwa n°: 20

Category: fatwas about Aqîda (creed) and Tauhîd (monotheism)

How to reply to those who deny Allah’s ability to create the impossible?
Question:

A teacher of philosophy in our secondary school in the city of Annaba asks his pupils: “If Allah is able to create all things, so is He able to create another god stronger than or similar to Him?” How should we reply to his question then?

Answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Certainly, Allah Glorified, Exalted and Almighty be He is able to create all things without exception among creatable things which did not exist before. This is called “Permissible contingent” such as the world and all its parts. Whereas, “The necessary existence” is Allah عزَّ وجلَّ and His Attributes which are inherent to His essence. Truly He is the Ever-Existent who has never been inexistent. His existence is autonomous; it is never dependant on external reason or cause, as it is meant in Allah’s Statement:

﴿هُوَ الأَوَّلُ وَالآخِرُ﴾ [الحديد: 3].

Translation of the verse:

﴾He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him)﴿ [Al-Hadîd (The Iron): 3].

This is why it is not allowed to say that Allah creates His Self because creation is to bring something into existence from nothingness, but Allah was never inexistent. In addition, what accepts creation needs, to be existent, a cause that affects it outside itself. And whatever is inexistent and accepts creation will never be similar to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ, nor stronger than Him. Be He Exalted above (all) that they say about Him.

However, one should not deal with such matters; this man, who wants to cause confusion, is a sophist; he wants to cast doubts and suspicions. He also wants to shake the correct creed of his pupils. Therefore it is obligatory to be cautious against him and against the Greek philosophy, its supporters, adherents and followers.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

cheikh ferkous حفظه الله تعالى