from nothing. Rather, it states that He created a being after it had been nothing, as He says:

“I created you before, when you were nothing.”

Yet He also states that He created him from a drop of sperm.

There are two interpretations of His words:

“Or were they created by nothing, or are they themselves the creators?”

The majority understand this to mean: Were they created without a creator, but rather from sheer nonexistence? Similarly, the Most High says:

“He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth—all from Him.”

And the Most High says:

“And His word which He conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from Him.”

And the Most High says:

“Whatever blessing you have is from Allah.”

Another interpretation is: Were they created without matter? This, however, is weak, because He says immediately afterwards:

“Or are they themselves the creators?”

This shows that the alternatives are: Were they created without a creator, or are they themselves the creators? Had the intended meaning been “without matter,” He would have said: Were they created from nothing, or from a lowly fluid? This indicates that the intended meaning is: I am their Creator, not the matter from which they were made.

Moreover, the notion that they were created without matter does not entail denying the Creator’s existence. Had they believed this, it would not have undermined their belief in the Creator, but would merely have shown their ignorance. Furthermore, they never thought this, nor does Satan whisper such a notion to human beings. Rather, they all know