The early generations differed as to whether the Throne was created first or the Pen. Two opinions are reported, as related by the ḥadīth master Abū Nuʿaym al-ʿAlāʾ al-Hamadhānī and others; the sounder view is that the Throne preceded. Those who contend that the Pen was created first cite the ḥadīth recorded by Abū Dāwūd in his Sunan and by others, on the authority of ʿUbādah, in which the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “The first thing Allah created was the Pen; He said to it: