existence altogether, this is sophistry of the highest order. Since this is so, seeking a cause for His knowledge, will, power, and all the other attributes that necessarily belong to Him is like seeking a cause for His essence. The latter is impossible, and so is the former. Thus, asking, “Why did He act after not acting?” is like asking, “Why did He act?” or “Why did He will?” These, in turn, are like asking, “Why does He exist?” All these questions are invalid because they contradict necessary existence.

This is further established by the tenth argument: these questions are the questions of Satan, concerning whom the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“Satan comes to one of you and says, ‘Who created such-and-such? Who created such-and-such?’ until he says, ‘Who created Allah?’ If any of you experiences this, let him seek refuge in Allah and desist.”

In another hadith in the Sahīh:

“People will keep questioning you until they say, ‘It is Allah who created everything; so who created Allah?’”

These questions, posed by devils among humans and jinn, are known through reason to be invalid. For this reason, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) instructed a person, when confronted with these