❖ The Reality of Allah’s Existence Before the Universe and the Limits of Human Understanding ❖
✍ By Zeeshan Waraich
A frequently asked question by atheists is:
“What was Allah doing before He created the universe?”
This question, though seemingly profound, is based on several flawed assumptions.
The question assumes that humans must know all that Allah does, whereas Islam never claims such knowledge.
The skeptic specifically asks about “before the creation of the universe,” implying that we do know what Allah has been doing after creating it —
when in reality, we don’t even fully know that.
The question suggests that Allah, like His creation, is obliged to constantly act, as humans are within their time-bound lives.
But Allah is free from all such constraints.
This is an attempt to project human limitations onto the Creator, which is misleading.
The question falsely assumes that Allah is bound by time and space,
when in fact, time and space are creations of Allah.
Time and space began with the universe.
Even scientifically, it is acknowledged that time and space originated with the Big Bang.
Therefore, before the universe, there was no “before” in the temporal sense —
no time, no space.
This makes the question inherently incoherent from both an Islamic and scientific standpoint.
The human mind cannot conceive of anything outside of time and space.
Since these dimensions didn’t exist prior to creation, we simply cannot comprehend what it means for Allah to act outside them.
✔ We do not know.
✔ We do not need to know.
✔ Allah did not deem it necessary to inform us.
✔ He gave us only the knowledge essential for our guidance.
✔ The answer to this question has no bearing on our salvation.
✔ The question exceeds human cognitive limits.
Response:
No.
Time and space are Allah’s creations.
Just as a human can control a creation (e.g., a machine or a simulation) without becoming part of it,
Allah governs His creation without being contained by it.
Islam does not claim that humans can fully understand how Allah acts —
because humans are confined by time and space, while Allah is completely beyond these dimensions.
✔ Allah is not what man imagines.
✔ Beliefs about Allah cannot be based on personal logic, desire, or scientific speculation.
✔ Allah’s nature is known only through the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Just as the Qur’an rejected the fabricated concepts of God held by pagan Arabs,
modern constructs of God — such as the “Clockmaker God” or “First Cause” of philosophy —
are equally false.
The true God is the One described by Allah’s Messenger ﷺ.
✍ By Zeeshan Waraich
◈ A Common Atheist Question
A frequently asked question by atheists is:
“What was Allah doing before He created the universe?”
This question, though seemingly profound, is based on several flawed assumptions.
◈ Errors Embedded in the Question
❖ Assumption 1: We Must Know All of Allah’s Actions
The question assumes that humans must know all that Allah does, whereas Islam never claims such knowledge.
The skeptic specifically asks about “before the creation of the universe,” implying that we do know what Allah has been doing after creating it —
when in reality, we don’t even fully know that.
❖ Assumption 2: Allah Is Compelled to ‘Do Something’ Like Creation
The question suggests that Allah, like His creation, is obliged to constantly act, as humans are within their time-bound lives.
But Allah is free from all such constraints.
This is an attempt to project human limitations onto the Creator, which is misleading.
❖ Assumption 3: Allah Exists Within Time and Space
The question falsely assumes that Allah is bound by time and space,
when in fact, time and space are creations of Allah.
◈ The Nature of Time and Space Before Creation
Time and space began with the universe.
Even scientifically, it is acknowledged that time and space originated with the Big Bang.
Therefore, before the universe, there was no “before” in the temporal sense —
no time, no space.
This makes the question inherently incoherent from both an Islamic and scientific standpoint.
◈ The Limits of Human Consciousness
The human mind cannot conceive of anything outside of time and space.
Since these dimensions didn’t exist prior to creation, we simply cannot comprehend what it means for Allah to act outside them.
◈ The Simple Answer
✔ We do not know.
✔ We do not need to know.
✔ Allah did not deem it necessary to inform us.
✔ He gave us only the knowledge essential for our guidance.
✔ The answer to this question has no bearing on our salvation.
✔ The question exceeds human cognitive limits.
◈ Objection: “If Allah interacts with the universe, doesn’t that mean He is bound by time and space?”
Response:
No.
Time and space are Allah’s creations.
Just as a human can control a creation (e.g., a machine or a simulation) without becoming part of it,
Allah governs His creation without being contained by it.
◈ The Nature of Divine Action Is Beyond Human Reason
Islam does not claim that humans can fully understand how Allah acts —
because humans are confined by time and space, while Allah is completely beyond these dimensions.
◈ Correct Belief About Allah
✔ Allah is not what man imagines.
✔ Beliefs about Allah cannot be based on personal logic, desire, or scientific speculation.
✔ Allah’s nature is known only through the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Just as the Qur’an rejected the fabricated concepts of God held by pagan Arabs,
modern constructs of God — such as the “Clockmaker God” or “First Cause” of philosophy —
are equally false.
The true God is the One described by Allah’s Messenger ﷺ.
