Explaining that al-Qadim (the Ancient) is not a name but a description, and that the name al-Awwal (the First) suffices for it, and explaining the meaning of qidam (antiquity) in the language with evidence, and explaining the meaning of al-Qadim according to the people of Kalam
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh :"If it is said, 'One Lord, *** whose attributes surpass calculation'"
This is not objectionable if it is said that He is One Lord, but His attributes are innumerable. "Arabat" means it increased beyond calculation, or "al-hisaban" means calculation.
"And He is the Ancient, so He has not ceased in His attributes *** being One, rather He is constant in His benevolence"
He is the Ancient as a description, not as a name, for al-Qadim is not among the names of Allah, because that has not come in the Qur'an or the Sunnah. However, He is described as being Qadim (Ancient). The qidam (antiquity) with them is not the qidam in the Arabic language. Qidam in the Arabic language means preceding others, even if it is created, as in the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Ya-Sin 36:39] What is it? [Ya-Sin 36:39] As for al-Qadim with the philosophers and the mutakallimun (theologians), it is that which was not preceded by non-existence. And yet, we do not name Allah with it, even though its meaning is correct, but we do not name Allah with it because the names are based on revelation (taqifi). The scholars have mentioned that al-Awwal (the First), which came in the texts, suffices for it, and it has a clear indication that no one preceded Him and no one compared to Him in His existence, Mighty and Majestic, and that matters return to Him. For al-Awwal may also be derived from al-awla (the first). So the author's saying "He is the Ancient" is from the perspective of what?
The student: The description
The Shaykh : It is from the perspective of description, not name
"And He is the Ancient, so He has not ceased in His attributes *** being One, rather He is constant in His benevolence"
This is not objectionable if it is said that He is One Lord, but His attributes are innumerable. "Arabat" means it increased beyond calculation, or "al-hisaban" means calculation.
"And He is the Ancient, so He has not ceased in His attributes *** being One, rather He is constant in His benevolence"
He is the Ancient as a description, not as a name, for al-Qadim is not among the names of Allah, because that has not come in the Qur'an or the Sunnah. However, He is described as being Qadim (Ancient). The qidam (antiquity) with them is not the qidam in the Arabic language. Qidam in the Arabic language means preceding others, even if it is created, as in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And the moon - We have determined for it phases
والقمر قدرناه منازلuntil it returns [appearing] like the old date stalk.
حتى عاد كالعرجون القديمThe student: The description
The Shaykh : It is from the perspective of description, not name
"And He is the Ancient, so He has not ceased in His attributes *** being One, rather He is constant in His benevolence"