Ibn Sīnā was among the earliest writers I have seen invoke the refutation of infinite regress specifically in efficient causes, rather than in effects, to establish the existence of the Necessary Being. He based this argument solely on refuting infinite regress in causes. Those who followed his method then followed him in this, such as al-Suhrawardī, who was put to death, and others like him, as well as al-Rāzī, al-Āmidī, al-Tūsī, and others.

These writers, however, went further than he did by making this method also dependent upon refuting circular dependence.

All rational people agree that circular dependence involving causal priority is impossible. Its impossibility is so evident that earlier thinkers and the majority had no need to mention it. Someone presenting a proof need not enumerate and refute every possibility that might occur to the minds of the ignorant, for these have no end. He need only rule out the possibilities that suggest themselves, and undoubtedly, which possibilities suggest themselves varies with the circumstances.

Perhaps this is why some people, when presenting proofs, mention some of the