And if we say, “It is impossible for all things that come into being to exist without one who brings them into being,” this entails the preceding statement. For every created thing comes into being; so if everything that comes into being must have one who brings it into being, then all the more must every created thing have a Creator. The same applies if we say, “Every contingent being requires a necessary being.”

Since the invalidity of this question is known through the innate disposition and self-evident knowledge, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded one to desist from it, just as one is commanded to desist from anything known to be invalid, including unsound questions whose invalidity is known. Examples include asking, “When did Allah come into being?” or “When will He die?” and similar questions.

This shows that the question, “Where was our Lord?” in the hadith of Abū Razīn was not considered invalid by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, unlike the question, “Who created Allah?” He neither forbade the questioner from asking it nor commanded him to seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, himself asked more than one person this question, saying, “Where is Allah?” He is above asking an invalid question, and he heard the answer to it. He is also above allowing an invalid answer to pass uncorrected. When he was asked this question, he answered it. Thus, he sometimes asked it and at other times answered it.

Even if the purpose had merely been to distinguish between the Lord and an idol, while the Messenger knew that