Permanence
Allah has no end
Core Claim
Allah is everlasting with no end — whatever is established as pre-eternal cannot become non-existent
Why It Matters
If Allah could cease to exist, He would be contingent and dependent on another — this contradicts His divinity, for the true God does not perish
Lesson
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.
Key Points
- 1
Permanence means Allah has no end — He is everlasting and imperishable
- 2
The rule: whatever has no beginning cannot have an end — pre-eternity and permanence are inseparable
- 3
The permanence of Paradise, Hellfire, and souls is by Allah's will — not intrinsic
- 4
If Allah could perish He would be changeable — and change is a sign of createdness
Evidence
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ
He is the First and the Last.
Quran 57:3 (Surah al-Hadid)
“Whatever is established as pre-eternal cannot become non-existent.”
Classical aqidah rule
Glossary
البقاء
al-Baqāʾ
Permanence — Allah has no end to His existence
الحدوث
al-Ḥudūth
Coming into existence after non-existence — the mark of created things
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