and in ordinary Arabic, qadīm (old) means something that precedes something else, even if it is created. As the Most High says:

“Until it became like the old date stalk.” {39} [Yā Sīn 39]

He also says:

“And since they are not guided by it, they will say, ‘This is an ancient falsehood.’” {11} [al-Ahqāf 11]

And He says:

“They said, ‘By Allah, you are certainly in your old error.’” {95} [Yūsuf 95]

And His close friend, peace be upon him, said:

“Have you considered what you have been worshipping {75}—you and your forefathers?” {76} [al-Shu'arā' 75-76]

Aqdam (older) is more emphatic than qadīm. The word qadīm follows the morphological pattern fa'īl, from qaduma, yaqdumu (to be old). Hence their expression, “ahdathiyy concerning what is old and what is new.”

Some speculative theologians among the Mu'tazilah and their followers have claimed that qadīm applies literally to that which was not preceded by nonexistence—namely, Allah—and figuratively to a created thing that precedes something else. Some people have said: “If indeed it is forbidden, Allah may not be called qadīm, because revelation has not sanctioned this designation; Allah’s names are established by revelation.”

The correct position is that, in the language in which the Quran was revealed, qadīm means something that precedes something else. Whether it was previously nonexistent or was never nonexistent is not a condition for calling it qadīm. Allah has the greatest right to this description, for He precedes everything. But since the word qadīm has shades of meaning