Traditions Sudayr as-Sayrafi said...

Traditions Sudayr as-Sayrafi said: “I heard Humran ibn A'yan asking Abu Ja'far (a.s.) about the word of Allah: The Originator of the heavens and the earth. Abu Ja'far (a.s.) said: 'Verily Allah, Mighty and Great is He!, originated all things by His (Own) Knowledge, without there being any previous model. So, He originated the heavens and the earth, and there were no heavens or earth before them.

Do you not listen to His word, and His throne was on the water?' ” ( al-Kafi; Basa'iru 'd-darajat ) The author says: The tradition points to yet another fine point. It shows that “the water”, mentioned in this verse, is something different from the water known to us. The Imam has quoted this verse to prove that Allah's creation is based on originality. And the Divine authority and power, before the creation of these heavens and this earth, was firm on the water.

Obviously, the water mentioned here was not the water of this earth, or like this earthly water. We shall explain it further under the verse: and His throne was on the water (12:7) . An Academic and Philosophical Discourse on the Originality of the Creation The experience as well as the philosophical argument proves that any two things are different from each other in their respective particulars even if they are united in their common and general characteristics.

Even if the two are so alike as to make it difficult for the senses to discern any dis­similarity between them, when seen or tested with the help of scientific instruments clear differences come before the eyes. It means that every creation is unique and original; no two things are made of one model. Now we should look at this matter from the philosophical point of view. Let us take any two things sand see why they are distinct from each other.

If the basis of distinction is not a thing within their own selves, then it must be an outside factor. In that case, their selves must be absolute and indivisible entities. But an absolute and indivisible entity cannot be duplicated nor re­peated. In other words, the two distinct entities would become one and the same. And it is a contradiction in terms. Therefore, we have to admit that every being is different in its own self from all other beings.

It follows that every thing is unique; and does not have any similarity or likeness to any other thing. And it is Allah who has given every thing its uniqueness, distinction and originality, as He is the Originator of the heavens and of the earth. Previous…