Permanence

Permanence (al-Baqāʾ) means Allah has no end — He is everlasting.

Every creation may pass away, unlike the Creator, because every creation was once non-existent and then brought into existence, so it may return to non-existence. But Allah was never preceded by non-existence, so non-existence can never befall Him.

The eternity of Paradise and Hellfire is not intrinsic — they last because Allah willed them to last. Paradise and Hellfire are created things; their permanence is not from their nature but from Allah's will. Likewise souls — Allah created them and willed permanence for them.

The golden rule: Whatever is established as pre-eternal cannot become non-existent — meaning: what is proven to have no beginning cannot have an end. Pre-eternity and permanence are inseparable attributes.

The proof: if it were possible for Allah to cease existing, He would be changeable, and change is a sign of createdness. That which is created needs a creator — and this is impossible for Allah.

Notes from the lesson: - The textual proof: 'Everyone upon the earth will perish' 'and there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor' (ar-Rahman 55:26-27), and also 'He is the First and the Last'. - His permanence, glory be to Him, is everlasting and essential (*dhātī*). - The permanence of Paradise and Hellfire comes with time passing over them, whereas Allah's permanence does not come with the passing of time. - (A note from the lesson, no source was mentioned for it) On the Day of Resurrection the animals become dust.

The rational proof: If Allah could be reached by perishing, He would be incapable, and if He were incapable He would not be a god.