this are far removed from ours, those quite contrary to them, as the Mutakallimun have thought them to be in this proposition, I mean that they take the Words originated and eternal to be contrary expressions, which our investigation has shown not to be the case.
The strange thing about all these opinions is that they are not in agreement with the literal sense of the Law. For if we look closely we shall find many verses which tell us of the creation of the universe—that is, of its originated nature. Creation and time are said to be without end. For according to the verse: "It is He who hath created the heavens and the earth in six days, but His Throne was above the waters before the creation thereof"[1] it is clear that there was a universe before this one, and that is the throne and the water, and a time which existed before that water. Then again the verse "The day will come when the earth shall be changed
- ↑ Quran xi, 9.
