the signs of temporal origination, or anything that entails imperfection and temporal origination—the Lord is free of all such things,” this is a true, well-known statement upon which there is agreement. The issue, however, concerns what those who negate the attributes claim to be marks of temporal origination, while others dispute their claim—especially since the Quran and Sunnah contradict their position.

The Jahmiyyah say: “The subsistence of attributes in Him, or of attributes pertaining to His will, is among the marks of temporal origination.” This is false according to the early generations, the leading scholars of the Sunnah, and indeed the majority of rational people. In fact, their claim entails that everything has a temporal beginning. For every existing being has attributes subsisting in it, as well as states that arise through will and power. If this necessarily entails temporal origination, it follows that everything has a temporal beginning and that nothing in all existence is eternal. This too has been discussed at length elsewhere.

The marks of temporal origination that necessarily entail it include dependence upon another. Whatever depends upon another has a temporal beginning, coming into existence after not having existed. The Lord is entirely free of any need for anything besides Himself. Whoever thinks that He needs the Throne or the bearers of the Throne is ignorant and astray. Rather, He is self-sufficient, while everything besides Him depends upon Him in every respect. He is the One upon whom all depend, needing nothing, while everything besides Him turns to Him in need:

“All who are in the heavens and the earth ask of Him; every day He is engaged in a matter.”