The Proof That Allah Exists Without Beginning and Has No End

Among the most fundamental matters of creed is the affirmation that Allah, the Most High, is Al-Awwal — the First — before Whom there is nothing, and Al-Akhir — the Last — after Whom there is nothing. He is Al-Qayyum, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, upon Whom all of creation depends, while He depends upon none.

Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, says in the Quran: 'He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing.' (Al-Hadid: 3). This verse is among the most comprehensive affirmations of Allah's absolute existence without beginning and without end. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, explained this ayah in his supplication, saying: 'You are the First, so there is nothing before You; and You are the Last, so there is nothing after You.' (Recorded by Muslim). This is clear textual proof that Allah's existence has no starting point and no ending point — He is uncreated, and all else is created.

The rational proof aligns with the scriptural proof. Created things require a creator, for they are contingent — they could exist or not exist, and their existence depends on an external cause. This chain of causation cannot regress infinitely; it must terminate at a being whose existence is necessary in itself, not brought into being by another. This is Allah. His existence is wajib — necessary and self-sufficient — while the existence of all creation is mumkin — possible and dependent.

Imam Ibn Khuzaymah affirms this through the Quran and Sunnah as the twin foundations of creed. The intellect confirms what revelation states. Allah existed before time itself, for He is the Creator of time. He existed before the Throne, the Pen, the heavens and the earth, and all beings. The hadith affirms: 'Allah existed and there was nothing else with Him.' (Recorded by al-Bukhari). This is the clearest possible affirmation that Allah's existence is absolute and prior to all things.

The Athari methodology — which Imam Ibn Khuzaymah represents — holds that we affirm these attributes as they have been transmitted, with certainty and without doubt. We do not engage in excessive philosophical speculation that leads away from the clear texts. We affirm that Allah is Al-Awwal without asking how, and Al-Akhir without seeking to define what that entails beyond what the text states. Our intellects, which are themselves created, cannot fully comprehend the nature of the uncreated Lord.

The Quran also states: 'Allah — there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep.' (Al-Baqarah: 255). The attributes Al-Hayy (Ever-Living) and Al-Qayyum (Self-Sustaining) reinforce the affirmation of His eternal existence. Something that sleeps or grows weary is subject to change and limitation. Allah is free from all such imperfections.

The believer must establish this foundation firmly before proceeding to any other aspect of creed. All other affirmations about Allah rest upon this bedrock: He is eternal, without beginning, and everlasting, without end. Everything that exists other than Him is created, contingent, and temporal — sustained by His will, brought into being by His command, and returning to Him at the appointed time.