Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (3/309)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

independently of the other, by which he assists and empowers the other; for even before receiving the other’s assistance, each already possessed power. When they came together, each grew stronger through the strength of the other. This is like two hands joined together: each possessed (1) strength, but when joined, their strength increased, for this one strengthened that one and that one strengthened this one. (2) Thus, each gave to the other and received from him, so their power increased (3) through their union.

This is impossible in the case of two creators, [for the power of the pre-eternal Creator, who is necessary in Himself, necessarily belongs to His essence and cannot be derived from another]. (4) If each of them were capable when alone, he could (5) act independently and do whatever lay within his power; his action would not require the assistance of the other. Either one could then act in accordance with the other’s will (6), or contrary to it, as he himself willed. If, however, neither were capable when alone, it would be impossible for them to acquire power together, because that would entail circular dependence: this one could not possess power until that one possessed it, while that one could not possess power until this one possessed it. Nor would there be any third party besides them to empower them; hence, neither of them would possess power.

As for two created beings who possess no power (7) when separate, they do not acquire (8) power upon

(1) Manuscripts (A) and (B): “for it.” (2) Manuscripts (A) and (B): “because this one increased that one’s strength through his own strength, and that one increased this one’s strength through his own strength”; manuscripts (N) and (M): “because this one increased that one’s strength, and that one increased this one’s strength through his own strength.” (3) Manuscript (N): “and [the power] increased.” (4) The passage enclosed in square brackets is absent from manuscripts (N) and (M). (5) Manuscripts (N) and (M): “capable when with the other, then if he were able.” This is a textual corruption. (6) Manuscripts (A), (ʿAyn), (N), and (M): “what the other does not will.” (7) Manuscripts (N) and (M): “no capacity.” (8) Manuscripts (N) and (M): “nor do they acquire.”

مِنْ غَيْرِ الْآخَرِ أَعَانَهُ بِهَا وَجَعَلَهُ بِهَا قَادِرًا ; لِأَنَّ كُلًّا مِنْهُمَا كَانَ قَبْلَ إِعَانَةِ الْآخَرِ لَهُ قُدْرَةٌ، وَعِنْدَ اجْتِمَاعِهِمَا زَادَتْ قُوَّةُ كُلٍّ مِنْهُمَا بِقُوَّةِ الْآخَرِ، بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْيَدَيْنِ اللَّتَيْنِ ضُمَّتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا إِلَى الْأُخْرَى، فَإِنَّ كُلًّا مِنْهُمَا كَانَ لَهَا (١) قُوَّةٌ، وَبِالِاجْتِمَاعِ زَادَتْ قُوَّتُهُمَا ; لِأَنَّ هَذَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ تَقْوِيَةً وَذَاكَ زَادَ هَذَا تَقْوِيَةً (٢) فَصَارَ كُلٌّ مِنْهُمَا مُعْطِيًا لِلْآخَرِ وَآخِذًا مِنْهُ فَزَادَتْ (٣) الْقُوَّةُ بِالِاجْتِمَاعِ. وَهَذَا مُمْتَنِعٌ فِي الْخَالِقَيْنِ؛ [فَإِنَّ قُدْرَةَ الْخَالِقِ الْقَدِيمِ الْوَاجِبِ بِنَفْسِهِ مِنْ لَوَازِمِ ذَاتِهِ لَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ تَكُونَ مُسْتَفَادَةً مِنْ غَيْرِهِ] (٤) ; لِأَنَّ كُلًّا مِنْهُمَا إِنْ كَانَ قَادِرًا عِنْدَ الِانْفِرَادِ أَمْكَنَهُ (٥) أَنْ يَفْعَلَ عِنْدَ الِانْفِرَادِ مَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَمْ يُشْتَرَطْ فِي فِعْلِهِ مُعَاوَنَةُ الْآخَرِ، وَحِينَئِذٍ فَيُمْكِنُ أَحَدُهُمَا أَنْ يَفْعَلَ مَا يُرِيدُهُ الْآخَرُ (٦) أَوْ مَا يُرِيدُ خِلَافَهُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَادِرًا عِنْدَ الِانْفِرَادِ امْتَنَعَ أَنْ يَحْصُلَ عِنْدَ الِاجْتِمَاعِ لَهُمَا قُوَّةٌ لِمَا فِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ الدَّوْرِ ; لِأَنَّ هَذَا لَا يَقْدِرُ حَتَّى يَقْدِرَ ذَاكَ، وَلَا يَقْدِرُ ذَاكَ حَتَّى يَقْدِرَ هَذَا، وَلَيْسَ هُنَا ثَالِثٌ غَيْرُهُمَا يَجْعَلُهُمَا قَادِرَيْنِ فَلَا يَقْدِرُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمَا. وَالْمَخْلُوقَانِ اللَّذَانِ لَا قُدْرَةَ (٧) لَهُمَا عِنْدَ الِانْفِرَادِ لَا يَحْصُلُ (٨) لَهُمَا قُدْرَةٌ عِنْدَ

(١) أ، ب: لَهُ. (٢) أ، ب: لِأَنَّ هَذَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ بِقُوَّتِهِ وَذَاكَ زَادَ هَذَا بِقُوَّتِهِ، ن، م: لِأَنَّ هَذَا زَادَ ذَاكَ وَذَاكَ زَادَ هَذَا بِقُوَّتِهِ. (٣) ن: وَزَادَتْ. (٤) مَا بَيْنَ الْمَعْقُوفَتَيْنِ سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ن) ، (م) . (٥) ن، م: قَادِرًا عِنْدَ الْآخَرِ إِذَا أَمْكَنَهُ، وَهُوَ تَحْرِيفٌ. (٦) أ، ع، ن، م: مَا لَا يُرِيدُهُ الْآخَرُ. (٧) ن، م: لَا مَقْدِرَةَ. (٨) ن، م: وَلَا يَحْصُلُ.