The question of “Who created God?” often emerges in discussions about the existence of God or the nature of ultimate reality. While it is a reasonable question to ask, it is important to note that it is based on a misunderstanding of the concept of God in many religious and philosophical traditions. Here are a few arguments that are commonly made in response to the question:
God as a Necessary Being
Many philosophical arguments for the existence of God posit God as a Necessary Being. According to this view, God is not caused or created but Exists by necessity. The concept of God as a Necessary Being means that God’s existence is not dependent on anything else but is Self-Existent or Self-Caused. In this understanding, God is the ultimate explanation or cause of all contingent things, but God Himself does not require a cause or creator.
A Necessary Being is one whose existence is not dependent on anything else. It exists by its own nature and does not rely on any external factors or conditions. In contrast, a contingent being is one whose existence depends on something else, such as its causes or conditions. A Necessary Being is self-existent, meaning it does not require a cause or explanation for its existence. It is the ultimate source of its own existence and is not derived from anything prior. Because a necessary being is not contingent on time or causes, it is often considered eternal, existing outside the constraints of time and space. A Necessary Being is typically thought of as unchanging and immutable because it is not subject to external influences or forces.
Conceptual Limitations
The question “Who created God?” assumes that everything must have a creator. However, this assumption may not apply to God if God is considered the ultimate foundation or source of all things. God exists outside the framework of cause and effect, time, and space. Therefore, the concept of creation, which implies a temporal and causal process, is not applicable to God.
Infinite Regress
The question “Who created God?” leads to an infinite regress if we apply it recursively. If we say that God was created by another being, then we can ask who created that being, and so on. This infinite regress fails to provide a satisfactory explanation. One way to break this regress is by positing a Necessary Being like God that does not require a creator.
Infinite regress is considered logically flawed because it leads to an infinite chain of explanations or causes without a foundational or ultimate explanation. In other words, it fails to provide a satisfactory resolution or endpoint.
The principle of sufficient reason, which is a fundamental principle in philosophy and logic, states that everything must have a reason or cause. When we encounter a series of explanations or causes, we typically look for a sufficient reason or cause that ultimately grounds or justifies the entire series. Without such a grounding or ultimate explanation, the series lacks a satisfactory explanation.
In the context of infinite regress, the problem arises when we propose an infinite chain of explanations or causes without a starting point or ultimate explanation. If we say that X is caused by Y, and Y is caused by Z, and Z is caused by A, and so on, without reaching an ultimate cause or explanation, we are left without a satisfactory resolution. The question of why there is an infinite chain of causes or explanations, rather than a stopping point, remains unanswered.
Additionally, an infinite regress can lead to logical paradoxes or contradictions. For example, in an infinite chain of causation, if every event is caused by a prior event, and there is no beginning, it becomes difficult to identify a cause for any particular event. This can violate the principle of causality, which states that every event must have a cause.
Therefore, due to the logical difficulties and the failure to provide a satisfactory explanation, infinite regress is considered logically flawed. Philosophers and logicians have proposed various solutions, such as positing a first cause or foundational explanation, to avoid the problem of infinite regress and provide a coherent account of causation or explanation. We argue that ‘first cause’ or ‘foundational explanation’ is God as the most reasonable explanation.
Transcendence and Mystery
God, as understood in many religious traditions, is regarded as Transcendent and beyond full human comprehension. The question “Who created God?” assumes that we can fully grasp the nature of God and fit it into our human understanding. However, if God is truly Transcendent, then our human intellects are insufficient to fully comprehend God’s nature.
Hadiths on the Topic
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
لاَ يَزَالُ النَّاسُ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ حَتَّى يُقَالَ هَذَا خَلَقَ اللهُ الْخَلْقَ فَمَنْ خَلَقَ اللهَ فَمَنْ وَجَدَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا فَلْيَقُلْ آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ
“The people will continue to ask questions until it will be said, ‘Allah created the creation so who created Allah?’ Whoever finds [himself] in anything like that, then let him say, ‘I believe in Allah.’”
[Muslim 134]
In another version of the hadith, it is reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
يَأْتِي الشَّيْطَانُ أَحَدَكُمْ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا حَتَّى يَقُولَ مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّكَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَهُ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ، وَلْيَنْتَهِ
“Satan comes to one of you and says, ‘Who created such and such, who created such and such?’ Until he says, ‘Who created your Lord?’ If one of you reaches that point, then let him seek refuge in Allah and put an end to it.”
[Bukhari 3276]
In another version of the hadith, it is reported that the Prophet ﷺ said to respond in the following way:
فَإِذَا قَالُوا ذَلِكَ فَقُولُوا { اللهُ أَحَدٌ * اللهُ الصَّمَدُ * لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ * وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ } ثُمَّ لْيَتْفُلْ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ ثَلاَثًا وَلْيَسْتَعِذْ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ
“If they say that, then say, ‘Allah is One. He is Self-Sufficient. He begets not nor was He begotten. There is nothing like Him. Then let him [dry] spit to his left three times and seek refuge [in Allah] from Satan.”
[Abu Dawud 4722; Al-Albani graded it Hasan]
The people of knowledge explain the above reports as follows:
The faith in Allah, may He be glorified, requires a conscious and aware heart, complete submission, and full surrender to Allah. Because many matters, especially those related to the unseen, are beyond the capacity of the human mind to comprehend. It is possible that individuals may be plagued by doubts and corrupted thoughts. In such situations, it is imperative for believers to quickly return to their faith in Allah and what He has revealed about Himself. The intention behind these questions is to cast doubt on Allah, suggesting that there must be a creator above Him. However, the believer must respond promptly by affirming belief in Allah and His messengers. These questions could be posed by others or come up internally within the conscious of the person.
The Prophet ﷺ advises that if Satan comes to anyone with such whispers, they should seek refuge in Allah and declare their belief in Him and His messengers. Satan, the worst enemy of humanity, aims to misguide people and lead them to destruction. He employs various insinuations and doubts, especially targeting matters of creed, which forms the foundation of religion and faith. He raises questions about the creation of the heavens and the earth, intending to make people fall into error and disbelief.
These hadiths emphasize seeking Allah’s help in overcoming the whispers of Satan. It also encourages believers to turn away from unsettled thoughts without engaging in debates or attempting to invalidate them, as this is one of the greatest means of ensuring one’s peace of mind.
The hadith which emphasizes Surah al-Ikhlaas as a response, it is because in it Allah is affirmed in His uniqueness, uncreatedness, and not described with the attributes of creation, such as being born or having a spouse or offspring. Allah is Exalted above what the wrongdoers say.
Regarding the act of dry spitting thrice to the left, it is a gesture of repulsion towards Satan and a way of belittling him. Following this, seeking refuge in Allah is emphasized to protect oneself from the insinuations of Satan that he casts into the hearts of people.
The hadith elucidates the possibility of intellectual doubt in matters of creed, but it underscores that the believer should always return to their faith. The narrations further explains that Satan hovers around the hearts of believers, casting doubts. However, believers are advised to seek refuge in Allah and adopt the means that repel such doubts.
I am a Pakistani-American Muslim blogger. I hold a B.S. in Information Technology and a B.A. in Islamic Studies. I am also a follower and a student of the Hanbali school of Islamic law. Read more