these are those belonging to the spheres of the sun and moon, as well as those below the spheres of the sun and moon. All of these are described as temporal, even though earlier and later times are known only through observable lights, such as the sun and moon, by which periods of time are marked.

The point is that precedence in time does not require time to exert any influence upon the thing in question, for time exerts no influence upon the celestial spheres. As for precedence without time, even if no sun or moon had been created, and there were neither a celestial sphere nor any celestial motion, it would still be conceivable for one thing to precede another. However, if nothing existed by which to distinguish this interval, neither its duration nor its divisions would be known, nor could its parts be distinguished from one another.

Yet this is never absent under any circumstances, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is living, existent, self-subsisting, and without beginning. ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd said: “With your Lord there is neither night nor day; the light of the heavens comes from the light of His Face.”