and Allah continues to exist after everything.

The chain of transmission for the marfūʿ (Prophetic) version is sound, whereas Jaʿfar’s balāgh—Jaʿfar ibn Burqān—is muʿḍal (perplexing, i.e., missing two or more consecutive transmitters). The material in between the two reports is mawqūf (stopping with the Companion). As for this narrator Najmah, I have found no information on him. The wording in the Muʿjam reads “Najmah” with a mīm, but in al-Jarḥ wa-l-Taʿdīl (4/1/509) it appears as “Najbah” with a bāʾ. Ibn Abī Ḥātim says only: “He narrated from Abū Hurayrah, and Yazīd ibn al-Aṣamm narrated from him; I heard my father state this,” and he adds nothing further. Nor does al-Ḥāfiẓ include him in al-Taʿjīl, even though the criteria of that work should have warranted his mention.

Fiqh of the ḥadīth:

These authentic narrations demonstrate that when Satan whispers to someone, asking, “Who created Allah?” he must avoid debate and instead respond in the very words taught in the ḥadīths. In essence he should say:

“I believe in Allah and His messengers. Allah is One, Allah is the Self-Sufficient; He begets not, nor is He begotten, and there is none comparable to Him.”

He should then spit lightly to his left three times, seek refuge with Allah from Satan, and put an end to following that line of intrusive thought.

I am convinced that whoever does this sincerely, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, will surely see the misgiving fade away and his devil routed, for the Prophet ﷺ said, “That will chase it away.”

This noble Prophetic instruction is far more beneficial and decisive in cutting off the whispering than rational argumentation on the issue, for disputation rarely helps in such matters. Regrettably, most people are heedless of this noble Prophetic teaching. So take heed, O Muslims, acquaint yourselves with the Sunnah of your Prophet and act upon it, for in it lie your healing and your honor.