[Continuation of Abū al-Husayn al-Basrī’s statement]

Abū al-Husayn al-Basrī said:

Once it has been established that the world came into existence, the proof that it has an originator is as follows: either it came into existence while it was possible for it not to do so, or its coming into existence was necessary.

If it came into existence necessarily, there would have been no reason for it to come into existence at that time rather than earlier. Its coming into existence could therefore never be fixed at any particular time, if this were necessary in itself. If, however, it came into existence while it was possible for it not to do so, there would have been no reason for it to exist rather than not exist, were it not for something that brought about its existence. Evidence is then adduced that He is knowing and powerful, thus establishing our position.

He said:

Our teachers argued that bodies require an originator on the grounds that our actions require an originator because they come into existence. Thus, everything that comes into existence requires an originator by virtue of its coming into existence. Since bodies came into existence, they require an originator. The proof that our actions require an originator is that, if they occurred by themselves without an originator, they would occur even when we were averse to them or prevented from performing them. Since they occur in accordance with our intention and do not occur when we are averse to them, we know that they depend on us.

He said:

The proof that they depend on us because they come into existence is that they must depend on us either for their coming into existence, for their continued existence, or for their nonexistence. If they depended on us for their continued existence, a building would necessarily cease to exist when its builder died. Nor can they depend on us for their nonexistence, because our actions were nonexistent before we existed and before we possessed the power to perform them. It is therefore established that they depend on us in order to come into existence. Moreover, it is their coming into existence that occurs anew in accordance with our intention and will, and that does not occur when we are averse to them. We thus know that they depend on us because they come into existence.

[Ibn Taymiyyah’s commentary]

I say:

This, then, is their most fundamental principle, upon which they have built both the sound and the corrupt elements of their religion. For acknowledging the existence of the Maker, exalted is He, that He is living, knowing and powerful, and the prophethood of