The difference between the self-attributes and the action attributes of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, what is the criterion for distinguishing between the self-attributes and the action attributes of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)? And are there any attributes that are both self-attributes and action attributes at the same time?

The Shaykh:
Yes. The action attributes: Allah is described with them before they occur; He is described with them. For example, so-and-so wrote the letter. Did he not write? Does this mean that he did not become a writer until he wrote, or is he described as a writer before he wrote? This is with regard to the created being. You say so-and-so is a writer; you do not say that he did not become a writer until he wrote the letter. He has been a writer from before, and he learned the art of writing, so the attribute of being a writer is inherent to him. As for his writing letters and books, these are renewed actions. If this is the case with the created being, then the Creator (Exalted and Majestic is He) is all the more so. Yes.

The questioner:
We say, Honorable Shaykh.

The Shaykh:
And the created being is a writer before he writes. Yes.