Chapter On Being and Space (al-Kawn WA al-Makan)

Nafi’ ibn al-Azraq (ibn Qays al-Hanafi, Abu Rashid [d.65/685], the head of al-Azariqah — one of the great sects of the Kharijites) asked Imam abu Ja’ far (a.s.). “Please tell me when did Allah come into existence?” The Imam replied, “(Tell me) when did Allah not exist, so that I would tell you when He came into existence. Glory belongs to Him, Who existed and will exist eternally. The One Self-sufficient, the Eternal, the Absolute, Who has not held for Himself no female companion or any child.”

A man from Ma Wara’ Nahr Balkh (Transoxania) came to abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), and said, ‘I have a question for you. If your answer is the same as I already know, I will accept you as my Imam (leader with divine authority).’” Imam abul-Hassan (a.s.) replied, “Ask whatever you wish.” The man said, “Tell me when did your Lord come into existence, how has He been and on what did He depend?” Imam Abul-Hassan (a.s.), replied, “Allah, the Blessed, the Almighty, is the space maker of space, Who Himself is not subject to the effects of any space. He is the maker of How and Himself is not subject to How. He is Self-sufficient with His own power.” The man stood up and kissed the head of the Imam (a.s.) and then said, “I testify that there is no god except Allah and Muhammad (s.a.) is the Messenger of Allah and that Imam Ali (a.s) is the successor of the Messenger of Allah and the Guardian and protector of what the Messenger of Allah has brought from Allah and that your forefathers are the leaders with divine authority and that you are a successor to them.”

“A man came to Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, ‘Tell me about your Lord. When did He come into existence?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Woe upon you! Such question is asked only about a thing that did not exist. My Lord, all Glory belongs to Him is and will be eternally. He lives and no How question applies to Him. He did not have any coming into existence and nor there was any being for His coming into being. This does not apply to Him because He is not subject to the effects of space. He was not in any thing or on any thing nor did He invent any space for His own space. He did not become stronger after making all things nor was weak before giving being to the beings. He was not lonely before His inventing all things. He is not similar to any thing that could be called a thing. He was also not without Kingdom before the creation and nor will He be without it after all things. He lives eternally without life and the powerful king before His invention of the things and He is an all powerful king after the creation of all things. To His existence no How or Where question is applicable. There is no limit for Him nor is He definable by analogy. He does not become old due to eternal living. He doe not become alarmed because of any thing but that all things are fearful of His (disappointment). He lived without newly emerging life. He is not a describable being or that could be limit with conditions or that would have a space to depend on. He does not have a place so that He can be considered as neighboring something. He is living and one can know Him. He is the eternal King. He has the power and the kingdom. He has created all that He wanted and when He decided by His will. He can not be limited. He can not be divided or destroyed. He was before everything but no How question would apply to Him. He will be the last but no Where will apply to Him. All things will be destroyed except He. The creation belongs to Him and His is the command. He is the Holy Lord of the worlds. O inquirer, imaginations can not encompass my Lord and He does not face any confusions or bewilderment. Nothing is able to escape Him and nothing happens to Him. He can not be held responsible for anything and He does not become regretful. Neither slumber nor sleep overcomes Him. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth and all that is between them and under the soil.

“The Jews came to their chief Ra’sul-Jalut and said, ’This man, meaning thereby Imam Ali (a.s.), is a scholar. Come with us to ask him questions. They all came to Imam Ali (a.s.) but the Imam was in the castle (Government building). They waited till the Imam (a.s.) came out. Ra’sul-Jalut, said, “We have come to you with a question.” The Imam said, “O Jew, ask whatever you like.” He said, “I would like to ask you about your Lord. When did He come into existence?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “(Allah) has always been without coming into being and without being a subject to a How question. He is eternal without quantity and quality. He was there without a Before. He is before every before without being before and without a beginning and end. The end falls short before Him and He Himself is the end of all ends.” Ra’sul-Jalut then said to his people, “Let us leave this place. This man knows more than what is said he knows.”

“One of the Jewish rabbis (hibr) came to Imam Ali (a.s.), and asked, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, when did your Lord come into existence?’” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Bereft of you be your mother! When has Allah not been (in existence), so that it could be said when did He come into existence. My Lord existed before any before without being before. He is after every after, without being after. There is no finale destination or end for Him. All ends fall short before Him. He is the final destination of all goals.” He further asked, “O Amir al-Mu’minin, are you a prophet?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Hold it there. I am one of the slaves of Muhammad,(s.a.) the Messenger of Allah.” It has also been narrated that someone asked Imam Ali (a.s.) this. “Where was our Lord before the creation of the heavens and the earth?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Where is a question about space. Allah has been there before there was space.”

“Ra’sul Jalut said to the Jews, ‘The Muslims consider Ali excelling everyone in polemics and the most learned. Let us go to him. I will ask him certain questions and perhaps catch him in errors.’” He went to the Imam (a.s.) and said, “O Amirul Mu’minin, I have a question about a matter.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ask about whatever you like.” He then asked, “O Amirul Mu’minin, when did our Lord come into existence?” Imam Ali replied, “O Jew, the question When applies to one who did not exist and (then) came into being. Allah has exists without coming into being, and without being in any becoming. Certainly, O Jew, most certainly, O Jew, how can there be any before for He Who was before the before. He does not have any destination. He is not the end of any destination and no destination ends up to Him. All destinations fall short before Him and He is the goal of all destinations.” The Jew then said, “I testify that your religion is the true religion and any thing against it is false.”

I asked Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) this. “Did Allah exist when there was nothing?” The Imam replied, “Certainly, Allah existed when there was nothing.” I further inquired, “Where did Allah exist?” The Imam was leaning, he then sat up and said, “O Zurarah, you spoke of impossible. You ask about space where there is no space.”

from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.): “A rabbi came to Imam Ali (a.s.) and asked, ‘O Amirul Mu’minin, when did your Lord come into existence?’” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Consider carefully. The question when applies to one who did not exist (and then came into being). When does not apply to the One Who is eternal. He was before the before without before and after the after without an after. He is not the end of some end so that His end would also end.” He then asked, “Are you a prophet?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Bereft of you be your mother! I am a slave among the slaves of the Messenger of Allah (saww).”