Allah's Existence & Transcendence

The existence of Allah is necessary — meaning it is impossible for Him not to exist under any circumstance. This necessary existence requires no cause or reason, because He is the source of all causes and reasons. As for everything other than Him, its existence is merely possible, subject to non-existence, and dependent on a creator.

Among the most important things to believe about Allah is that He exists before place and time and beyond them. Time and place are created things, and Allah is their Creator. He is therefore not encompassed by any place, nor limited by any time — for how could the Creator dwell within the created?

This is what Islamic theologians express through the principle of tanzih: declaring Allah free of everything that implies imperfection or suggests resemblance to creation. Allah said: 'There is nothing like unto Him; He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing' (42:11) — He declared Himself free from resemblance and affirmed for Himself hearing and sight, but His hearing and sight bear no resemblance to ours.

The question 'Where is Allah?' is often raised. The correct answer in the creed of Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama'a is: Allah exists without a place, because place is created and Allah existed before the creation of place and beyond it. When the Quran uses expressions suggesting elevation such as 'The Most Merciful settled over the Throne' (20:5), the intended meaning according to the majority of Ash'ari and Maturidi scholars is exaltation of dominion, authority, and rank — not physical settlement in a location.

As for the matter of anthropomorphism — imagining Allah in the form of a human or animal — this is an explicit doctrinal error. The Quran describes Allah with attributes such as face, hand, and shin. Ahl al-Sunna follow two valid approaches: • Ta'wil (Ash'ari approach): these terms are interpreted with meanings befitting Allah's greatness, such as power and blessing. • Tafwid with tanzih (Salaf approach): the words are passed without asking how (bila kayf) and without likening, with firm certainty that the intended meaning bears no resemblance to creation.

Both approaches are valid among the majority of Ahl al-Sunna. The error is explicit anthropomorphism — affirming a real body, place, or physical limb for Allah.

Ultimately, tanzih is not a denial of Allah's existence — it is an expression of His greatness. We affirm His existence and acknowledge our inability to encompass the modality of His being — and this is the proper etiquette of a Muslim with their Lord.