Who Created the Creator?

Introduction:

Have you ever been in the middle of an amazing adventure—maybe in a book, a movie, or a video game—and wondered who dreamt up all these incredible characters, stories, and worlds? It’s the creators—the authors, filmmakers, and game developers—who weave these adventures for us. But what if I told you there’s an even bigger adventure, an adventure that involves you, me, and everything we see around us? Who’s the author of this grand tale? it’s Allah AKA (GOD).

Just like J.K. Rowling penned Harry Potter’s world into existence or like Markus Persson (Notch) crafted the vast expanses of Minecraft, Allah is the Creator of our universe and everything in it. He’s the one who designed the starry night sky, the diverse animals in the forests, and even you and me! But this leads us to a big question—a question that has puzzled many kids and adults alike: “If Allah created everything, then who created Allah?”

In this article, we’re going to dive into that question. We’ll take a journey through the realms of Islamic philosophy and theology, break down complex concepts into bite-sized, easy-to-understand pieces, and help you wrap your head around the idea of Allah’s existence. Whether you’re ten years old or a hundred, whether you’re well-versed in these topics or just starting out, we’ve got you covered. So buckle up, adventurers, as we embark on this exciting exploration into understanding Allah, the Creator of the universe.

The Necessary Being Argument

To help unravel the question “Who created Allah?”, let’s step into the shoes of our favorite detectives. Think of Sherlock Holmes, Hermione Granger, or even the curious Dora the Explorer. What’s their secret weapon when solving a mystery? That’s right – asking lots of questions! So, let’s start with our first clue: the concept of a “Necessary Being.“

You might be wondering, “What’s a ‘Necessary Being’?” Well, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Picture your favorite storybook. It’s filled with exciting characters and gripping tales, right? But could that storybook write itself? Of course not! It needs an author. The storybook’s existence is totally dependent on the author who dreamt up the characters and wove the story together. Without the author, there’d be no storybook.

In this scenario, the author is what we call a ‘Necessary Being’ – someone or something that must exist for the storybook to be written. The storybook, on the other hand, is a ‘contingent being’. That means it could either exist or not exist, and its existence relies entirely on the author.

Now, let’s take this idea and apply it to the biggest storybook of all – our universe! This massive ‘storybook’ with its stunning characters – like the majestic lion, the radiant sun, the shimmering stars, and even us, humans – couldn’t have just ‘written’ itself into existence. There must be an ‘Author,’ a Necessary Being, who brought it all to life. According to Islamic belief, the ‘Author’ is Allah.

But here’s the twist – unlike the storybook’s author, who probably had parents who brought them into the world, Allah doesn’t have a creator. He has always been there, existing independently. He doesn’t need anyone or anything else to exist. That’s why He’s called a ‘Necessary Being’. He’s not contingent, or reliant on anything else; instead, everything else relies on Him for existence!

This concept, the idea of a ‘Necessary Being’, is a key argument for Allah’s existence and the fact that He doesn’t have a creator. Just like a detective finding the piece of evidence that cracks the case wide open, understanding this concept can help us solve our own mystery – the question of “Who created Allah?”

Remember, this is a complex idea, so it’s okay if you don’t get it immediately. Our brains are like muscles – they get stronger the more we use them! So let’s keep flexing our mental muscles as we dive deeper into this fascinating journey of understanding Allah’s existence.

The Cosmological Argument

Do you remember playing with dominoes when you were younger or maybe you still do? There’s something incredibly satisfying about setting them up in a long line and then knocking the first one over to watch them all tumble down one after another. But have you ever stopped to think, what would happen if you didn’t knock the first domino over? They would just stand there, right? Each domino falling is a result of the one before it getting knocked over.

In a way, our universe is like a giant set of dominoes. Each event causes another. A seed grows into a tree because it receives sunlight and water, a car moves forward because the engine burns fuel to produce power, and you grow taller because your body produces growth hormones. Cause and effect – just like the dominoes!

But here’s the million-dollar question, “What knocked over the first domino?” Or in terms of the universe, “What caused the first event?” There must have been something that started the chain reaction, right?

This brings us to a concept known as the Cosmological Argument, or as we like to call it, the “Cosmic Domino Effect.” It proposes that everything in the universe, every effect, must have a cause. But we can’t go back infinitely, because that’s like saying the dominoes have been falling forever – but then who knocked over the first one?

In the Islamic faith, it’s believed that Allah is the “First Cause,” the One who knocked over the first cosmic domino. He set the universe into motion and doesn’t need a cause Himself. Why, you might ask? Well, because if Allah had a cause, then we’d have to ask, “What caused that cause?” And we’d get stuck in an endless loop of causes. To avoid this, there must be a beginning, a first cause that is uncaused. And that’s Allah.

Cracking this cosmic mystery is no easy feat, but every good detective knows that complex riddles make for the most thrilling adventures. So, hold on to this detective clue, the Cosmic Domino Effect, as we venture further into understanding the ultimate question – “Who created Allah?”

Avoiding the Infinite Loop: The Problem of Infinite Regression

Did you ever play the “Why?” game as a kid, where you keep asking “why?” to every answer you get? For instance, “Why is the sky blue?” leads to “Why does sunlight scatter?” and so on. It’s fun, right? But have you noticed something about the “Why?” game? It can go on forever if we don’t set a point where we say, “That’s just the way it is.”

Now imagine if we applied the “Why?” game to the universe and its creation. If we say that every god has a creator, we end up in an endless game of “Who created that creator?” This is similar to the “Why?” game, but in this case, it’s not just fun, it’s problematic. This is what philosophers and theologians call the “problem of infinite regression,” which basically means an endless loop of causes or creators.

Let’s imagine for a moment that we have a box that is locked by a chain of countless padlocks, and each padlock has a unique key. Now, suppose you need to open the box, but the keys are held by an endless line of key holders. To open the box, you need to get the first key from the first key holder. But if there’s an infinite line of key holders, you’d never reach the beginning, and the box would remain locked forever!

Similarly, if every god had a god that created them, we would never reach the beginning. We would be stuck in an infinite loop of creators, making it impossible to understand how it all started.

In Islam, to avoid this infinite loop, we believed that there is one God, Allah, who is uncreated and eternal. He is the First Cause, the original “Key Holder” who started it all, breaking the potential infinite loop. That’s why He doesn’t have a creator. If Allah had a creator, we’d fall into the trap of infinite regression – and that’s a puzzle even the best detective couldn’t solve!

The Problem of Infinite Regression of Deities

You know what’s fun? Imagining infinity. It’s like trying to picture the biggest number you can, and then adding one more! As cool as it sounds, infinity can also be quite tricky, especially when we apply it to the idea of gods or deities. This is where we encounter the conundrum of the “infinite regression of deities.”

Let’s imagine for a moment a giant ladder reaching up into the sky, where each rung represents a god who was created by the god on the rung above. If we try to climb this ladder, looking for the god who started it all, we’d never reach the top. Why? Because in an infinite sequence, there’s always one more rung to climb, one more god who was created by another.

It’s like being in a maze with no exit! But here’s the thing: our universe isn’t a maze with no exit. It’s more like a well-planned story, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. And every good story needs an author who set the plot in motion.

In the Islamic belief, the ultimate ‘Author’ is Allah. He’s the one who started the story, who set the plot of our universe in motion. He’s not just another rung on an endless ladder or another twist in an infinite maze. He’s the one who created the ladder, the maze, the story—everything.

But here’s the best part—Allah isn’t created by another god. He’s the starting point, without a creator of His own. This solves the problem of the infinite regression of deities. Because if Allah had a creator, we’d be back to climbing that infinite ladder or wandering in the endless maze, right?

Understanding Allah as the uncreated Creator helps us avoid getting lost in the confusing concept of the infinite regression of deities. It gives our cosmic adventure a clear starting point, making the journey not just a wild goose chase, but a well-guided exploration into the mystery of existence.

Qualities of Allah

When you play a role-playing game, have you noticed how every character has their own unique qualities? Speed, strength, wisdom – all of these attributes help define the character and set them apart. Now, what if we told you that Allah, the Creator of our grand cosmic adventure, has His own unique qualities too? These are called His ‘inherent qualities,’ and understanding them is like getting a sneak peek at the most powerful character sheet ever!

In Islam, Allah is not just the Creator but also has a range of attributes that define Him. These are intrinsic to Him, like a superhero’s superpowers, only way more amazing! Let’s take a look at some of these inherent qualities:

Oneness (Tawhid): Just like a book has one author or a painting has one artist, there’s only one Creator for our universe. Allah is uniquely One and has no partners or equals. Imagine being the sole author of the most massive, detailed, and immersive universe—pretty impressive, right

Eternal (Al-Samad): Remember the fun but confusing concept of infinity we talked about? Well, Allah’s existence is kind of like that—without a beginning or end. He has always been and will always be, just like a story that goes on forever. But unlike our tricky infinite ladder or maze, this eternal story has a clear author—Allah.

All-Knowing (Al-‘Alim): Ever wondered what it would be like to know everything? Every secret, every detail, every event from the past, present, and future? Well, Allah does! He’s all-knowing. From the smallest ant to the largest galaxy, He knows about everything.

Most Merciful (Ar-Rahman) and Most Compassionate (Ar-Rahim): You know how some characters in stories are kind and always ready to help? Allah’s mercy and compassion surpass them all. He’s the most merciful and most compassionate, always ready to forgive and guide His creation.

All-Powerful (Al-Qadir): Think of the strongest superhero you know. Now, imagine someone infinitely more powerful. That’s Allah! He’s all-powerful and can do anything and everything.

These inherent qualities of Allah help us understand Him better, just like understanding a character’s qualities helps us appreciate them more in a story. But remember, Allah is not a fictional character. He’s the Creator, the author of our grand cosmic adventure.

 Conclusion

As we journey through the galaxies of our questions, it’s like we’ve embarked on an interstellar voyage, right? From exploring the concept of a “Necessary Being” to understanding the “Cosmic Domino Effect,” from solving the puzzle of the “Infinite Regression of Deities” to unveiling the “Inherent Qualities of Allah,” we’ve journeyed across a vast cosmos of ideas, like true cosmic explorers.

But remember, every good adventure has a destination. And ours? It’s not a treasure chest or a secret fortress. It’s understanding. Understanding Allah, the Grand Architect of the universe, the Uncreated Creator, the One who set the cosmic dominoes in motion, the One who broke the chain of an infinite regression of deities, and the One with qualities beyond human comprehension.

Just as every star in the night sky is part of a constellation, each argument we discussed forms part of a larger picture – the picture of Tawhid, the Oneness of Allah in Islam. It’s a reminder that, in the grand scheme of the cosmos, we are explorers, trying to comprehend the vast and intricate mysteries of our existence.

So, as we end this part of our adventure, remember this: Never stop questioning. Never stop exploring. Just as the universe expands, so should our knowledge and understanding. The journey might be long, the cosmic puzzle complex, but remember, every great journey begins with a single step. And every puzzle, no matter how intricate, starts with a single piece.

Our cosmic voyage doesn’t end here. It’s just the beginning. There are galaxies of questions waiting to be discovered and a universe of answers to be found. So, keep your explorer’s hat on, hold on to your detective’s magnifying glass, and let’s promise to meet again, under the cosmic canopy of curiosity.

Until then, fellow adventurers, keep exploring, keep questioning, and remember – the universe is not just a grand spectacle, it’s our cosmic adventure. And every adventure is a story waiting to be told.

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