the two views advanced by the philosophers and the speculative theologians.

The philosophers held that contingency is the cause of need, whereas the speculative theologians held that origination is its cause.

The correct view is that contingency and origination are inseparable, and both indicate need and dependence. The world’s need for Allah, glorified be He, is intrinsic and cannot be attributed to a cause. It is intrinsically dependent upon its Lord, who is intrinsically Self-Sufficient. Its contingency, origination, and other indications are then cited as evidence of this need.

The point is that He, glorified be He, has declared that His servants, in their very reality and essence, are in need of Him, just as He has declared of His own holy essence and reality that He is Self-Sufficient and Praiseworthy.

Absolute need in every respect is inherent in their essences and realities as such. Absolute self-sufficiency in every respect is inherent in His essence and reality as such, exalted is He. Thus, it is impossible for the servant to be anything but needy, and impossible for the Lord, glorified be He, to be anything but Self-Sufficient, just as it is impossible for the servant to be anything but a servant, and impossible for the Lord to be anything but the Lord.