The Difference between the Creator and the Creation.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
By Sheikhul Islam ibn Taymiyyah (728H)
There are some differences between the Creator and the creation which even the least intelligent person can recognize.
Some of those differences are;
Allah is Self-Sufficient and is in no need of anyone at any time. However, kings and even slave masters need people at times when it is necessary.
Although, Allah the Highest, loves good deeds, and is Pleased and Delighted by the repentance of the repentant, He created those kinds of people and makes it easy for them to repent. The only way that the things which Allah loves and is pleased with occurs is by His will and decree. This is the belief of Ahlus wal Jama’a. They hold that the blessings which befall Allah’s servants are from Him alone, unlike the Qadariyyah. The Son of Adam may at times receive what he is pleased with by the actions of someone else.
Allah orders the servants in the things which are beneficial to them and prohibits them from the things which are harmful. Qatadah said: “Allah didn’t order the servants with His commands because He needs them, nor did He prohibit them from certain things being stingy towards them. Rather Allah ordered the servants with the things that benefit them and prohibited them from the things that harm them.
The creation on the other hand, orders people in things which he himself needs or will prohibit them from certain things being stingy towards them. This is also understood by Ahl0us Sunnah, who affirm Allah’s Wisdom and His Mercy. They say, “Allah only commanded the servants with things that are beneficial and prohibited them from the things which are harmful to them.” While the Mujabiriyah hold the view that Allah sometimes commands the servants with things that harmful and prevents us from things which can be useful to you and I.
Also, among the other differences between the Creator and the Creation is Allah blessed us by sending Prophets and revealing Divine Scriptures. He blessed us with ability and senses by which we are able to have knowledge and practice good deeds. Allah is the One Who guides His servants. There is no true might and strength except with Allah. He says in the Quran about the people of Jannah.
{الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ لَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالْحَقِّ}
“All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has guided us to this, never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allah had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth.” (7/43)
The creation has no ability to guide others to what is correct.
Moreover, other differences include the fact that Allah’s blessings favored on His servants are uncountable. If it were decreed that worship would be the price paid for the bounties which Allah bestowed on His servants, then only a few acts of worship would suffice for that gratitude. Thus, worship is a blessing in of itself.
The servants of Allah continue to fall short in their duties, so they need pardon and mercy. No one will ever enter Paradise due to his actions, as everyone has sins and is in need of Allah’s Forgiveness. He said:
{وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا مَا تَرَكَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ}
And if Allah were to punish men for that which they earned, He would not leave a moving (living) creature on the surface of the earth. (35/45)[1]
Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha,Qatar 1442©
[1] Majmou/ 1/216