What does Allah’s existence being from His own essence mean?

Dear Brother / Sister,

7.1.4-Allah’s existence is from His own essence

Allah’s existence, which is pre-eternal and post-eternal, is based on His own self. His existence is a necessity of His sacred personality; it does not come from anyone/anything else. For this reason, Allah is called Wajib al-Wujud, that is, Necessarily Existent. His existence is far from needing another creator. What is thought to be created cannot be a deity. Therefore, the question Who created Allah? cannot be asked because such a question is contrary to the definition of Allah at the beginning. In the definition of Allah, it was accepted that He created everything but that He Himself was not created.

The attributes of Allah are from His essence. That is, they are indispensable requirements of His essence. In other words, if those attributes do not exist or if they are limited, He cannot be a deity. It is not possible to consider those essential attributes separately from Him. Those attributes cannot be separated from Him by any means because that being is defined and known by those attributes.

He exists spontaneously; He is pre-eternal. He was not born and he did not give birth, as it is stated in His divine book. He does not need anyone else to exist. If it were not like that, there would be no universe whatsoever.

When this fact is not accepted, there will be no possibility to explain the existence of the world in which we live. It is possible for anything except Allah to exist and not to exist. That is, they may exist or not exist. Therefore, their coming into the realm of existence from the realm of non-existence depends on Allah’s creation. If He wishes, they come into being; if not, they will not exist.

The attributes of Allah are from His essence. That is, they are indispensable requirements of His essence. In other words, if those attributes do not exist or if they are limited, He cannot be a deity. It is not possible to consider those essential attributes separately from Him. Those attributes cannot be separated from Him by any means because that being is defined and known by those attributes.

A simple example can be given to understand the issue better: When we say “a human being”, his head, body, arms and legs come to mind from the definition of human being. The indispensable part of a human being is his head. There cannot be a human being without a head except for a miracle.

When “Allah” is said, His essential and immutable attributes are indispensable.

Since the attributes of Allah are from His essence, the opposite of those attributes cannot be added to Him. However, the attributes of creatures are added to them later. For instance, Allah’s attribute of power is from His essence. Therefore, weakness, which is the opposite of power, cannot enter that power. For, if it is supposed to enter, two opposites must exist at the same time, which is not logically possible. For instance, Allah has infinite power; He cannot be infinitely weak and powerless at the same time. Similarly, He cannot be an ignorant who knows nothing while He has infinite knowledge. Thus, it is impossible for any of the opposites of all essential attributes such as sight, hearing and will to exist in Him.

The manifestation of Allah’s will to create an atom is the same as the manifestation of His will to create the infinite universe, including Paradise and Hell.

Since weakness cannot approach Allah’s power, weakness cannot enter into that power by any means. This clearly shows that there cannot be degrees and stages in His essential power. For, degrees occur in something when its opposites enter into it.

For instance, stages in heat occur when cold enters into it. Stages and degrees occur in beauty when ugliness enters into it.

In all the creatures that have been created, the opposites are intertwined, since the attributes are incidental, that is, given to them later.

In all the created beings, the attributes enter into them afterwards; therefore, the opposites are intertwined in them.

One of the important reasons that mislead people about the attributes of Allah and cause them to deny is that they compare those attributes of Allah with those that are given to them.

Since there are no degrees in the pre-eternal power of Allah, all of the created beings are equal in the face of His infinite power. The biggest becomes equal to the smallest;  particles become similar to stars. The creation of the spring season is as easy as the creation of a single flower for that power.The resurrection of all human beings on the Day of Judgment is like the resurrection of one human being.

The manifestation of Allah’s will to create an atom is the same as the manifestation of His will to create the infinite universe, including Paradise and Hell.

One of the important reasons that mislead people about the attributes of Allah and cause them to deny is that they compare those attributes of Allah with those that are given to them.

It is possible to see the fact that many and few, and big small are not different for the attributes of Allah in some laws that are valid in the universe.

1.Nursi, B. S.  Lem’alar. p.15.
2.Nursi, B. S. Sözler. p. 654-655.

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