‘I believe in Allah.’” In another version: “and His Messenger.”

In another version:

“They will keep questioning you, O Abū Hurayrah, until they say: ‘Here is Allah; who created Allah?’

He said: While I was in the mosque, some Bedouins came to me and said: ‘O Abū Hurayrah, here is Allah, who created creation; who created Allah?’

He said: He took some pebbles in his palm and threw them at them, then said: ‘Get up! Get up! My beloved friend spoke the truth.’”

It is also recorded in the Sahīh, from Anas ibn Mālik, that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Allah said: ‘Your community will keep asking, “What is this? What is that?” until they say: “Here is Allah, who created creation; who created Allah?”’”

This infinite succession of causes and agents is accompanied by another infinite succession: that concerning the completion of action and causal efficacy. It is of two kinds: infinite succession with respect to action in general, and infinite succession with respect to a particular action.

The first is exemplified by saying: an agent does nothing at all until he performs a particular action; or he brings nothing into existence until he brings something into existence; or nothing proceeds from him until something proceeds from him. This, too, is invalid according to clear reason and the consensus of rational people.