Can God Do Anything?

Name of Questioner: Martha

Date: 21-1-2020 02:08:12 AM

Consultant: Ask About Islam Editorial Staff

Question:

Can God do anything? For example, can He make a rock so big - nothing can move it? If He did make a rock so big nothing could move it, would this mean He couldn't move it too? Or would it be impossible for Him to make something so big He couldn't move it?"

Dear Martha,

Thank you for your question.

Answering your question, the famous American preacher, Sheikh Yusuf Estes, states:

Allah tells us "Allah is capable of doing anything He Wills to do." It should be noted in Islam we understand Allah never Wills to do anything that would make Him no longer be Allah.

That is to say, He would never die as this would mean He is no longer "The Eternally Alive" (one of His characteristics mentioned in the Quran).

Therefore, He can make a rock (or anything else for that matter) so large or heavy - nothing in the entire universe can move it.

As regards Allah "moving" it, He is not in the universe and He does not resemble His creation.

Therefore, Allah is never subject to the Laws of the Creation because He is both the Creator and the Law Giver.

Whenever He wants anything done, He merely says "Kun! Fayakun!" (Be! And so it will be!)

Speaking about Himself, Allah says: The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says "BE!" - and it is. (Al-Baqarah 2:117)

She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me." He said: "So (it will be) for Allah (God) creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: "BE!" and it is. (Aal Imran 3:47)

Verily, the likeness of Jesus before Allah (God) is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then (He) said to him: "BE!" - and he was. (Aal-Imran 3:59)

It is He Who has created the heavens and the earth in truth, and on the Day of Resurrection He will say: "BE!", - and it shall become. His Word is the truth. His will be the dominion on the Day when the trumpet will be blown. All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the All-Wise, Well-Aware (of all things). (Al-Anam 6:73)

Verily! Our Word unto a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: "BE!" and it is. (An-Nahl 3:40)

It befits not Allah (in His Majesty) that He should beget a son. Glorified and Exalted is He. When He decrees a thing, He only says to it, "BE!" and it is. (Maryam 19:35)

Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "BE!" and it is! (Ya-Seen 36:82)

He it is Who gives life and causes death. And when He decides upon a thing He says to it only: "BE!" and it is. (Ghafir 40:68)

Creation as we see from these verses, is not a difficult thing for God at all. He merely gives a Command and everything comes about according to His Will.

We hope this answers your question.

Keep in touch.

Source: Allah: Frequently Asked Questions by Chaplain Yusuf Estes.