Question
Kindly provide examples from the Quran where Allah Ta’ala clearly expresses that He is the creator of everything and that there was nothing before Him.
Answer
There are many such verses mentioned throughout the Quran. Hereunder are a few:
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“He (i.e. Allah Ta’ala) is the First (i.e. nothing was existing before Him) and the Last, the Apparent, and the Hidden, and He has knowledge of everything.”
(Surah Hadid, verse: 3; Also see: Mufradatul Quran, pg. 99-100)
بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَإِذَا قَضَى أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ
“(Allah Ta’ala is) The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decides (to create or ordain something), He merely says, “Be!” and It becomes (what He willed).”
(Surah Baqarah, verse: 117)
بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُ صَاحِبَةٌ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ # ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
“(Allah Ta’ala is) The Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have a son when He has no consort?! He has created everything and has knowledge of everything. That is Allah Ta’ala, your Rabb! There is none worthy of worship but Him, the Creator of everything! Therefore, worship Him! He is the Guardian over all things.”
(Surah An’am, verses: 101-102)
In the Arabic language, the word بديع, translated in the above two verses as “Originator”, means to create something without any previously existing example. This constitutes that Allah Ta’ala has created everything before which there was nothing, except Him.
(Refer: Mufradatul Quran, pg. 110, and Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Baqara, Verse: 117)
إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقًّا إِنَّهُ يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ …
“To Him you shall all return (after death). Allah’s promise is true. Verily, He is the one who originates (creates) the creation, thereafter He (himself) will repeat it (i.e. create them again after their deaths)….”
(Surah Yunus, verse: 3; Also see Surah Yunus, verses: 4-6)
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَثَّ فِيهِمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ وَهُوَ عَلَى جَمْعِهِمْ إِذَا يَشَاءُ قَدِيرٌ
“And from amongst His (Allah Ta’ala’s) signs (denoting His great power) are the creation of the heavens and the earth, as well as every creature that He has dispersed within the two. He has the Power to gather them all whenever He pleases.”
(Surah Shura, verse: 29; Also see: Surah Taha, verse: 50, Surah Ambiya, verse: 104, and Surah Qamar, verse: 49)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar