easy.” {70} [al-Hajj 70]

And He, Most High, said:

“No calamity befalls the earth or yourselves except that it is in a Book before We bring it into being. Indeed, that is easy for Allah. {22} So that you may not grieve over what has escaped you, nor exult over what He has given you.” [al-Hadīd 22-23]

Yet His recording this does not indicate that He needs a book and scribes for fear of forgetfulness or error, even though the book is something separate from Him. His creating what He creates with His two hands is therefore still less indicative of any such need on His part.

The second response is that He, glorified be He, is the Self-Sufficient, the One on whom all depend, the All-Powerful. Whatever He has created pertaining to the heavens and the earth, this world and the Hereafter, He has created through causes that He Himself created, making some created things causes of others. As He, Most High, said:

“It is He who sends the winds as bearers of good tidings before His mercy, until, when they carry heavy clouds, We drive them to a lifeless land, then send down water through them and bring forth thereby every kind of fruit.” [al-A'rāf 57]

And He, Most High, said:

“And the water Allah sends down from the sky, giving life thereby to the earth after its death and dispersing throughout it creatures of every kind.” [al-Baqarah 164]

And He, Most High, said:

“And We sent down blessed water from the sky and brought forth thereby gardens and grain for harvest.” {9} [Qāf 9]

And He, Most High, said:

“With it He causes crops, olives, date palms, grapes, and every kind of fruit to grow for you.” [al-Nahl 11]

And He, Most High, said:

“And We brought forth thereby gardens of delightful beauty.” [al-Naml 60]