The Eternal Potential Association

Some attributes have both associations. For example, take creating. That is the ṣifah of Allah. The makhlūq that we see around us — that has been in existence, and gone, in this world, and anything that is going to come after it — that is all the effect of Allah's khalq. So the attribute is called khalq, and the effect, the impression, is called makhlūq. What is the association between these two? Is it created or eternal? Both answers are right. There is an eternal association, and there is also a created association.

The eternal association is what he is saying here: Allah was the Creator before there was anything created, which means He had the ability. There was an eternal association, which can be called a potential, an ability that was always there. But when He chose to bring it into being, that is when the created association comes in: when it materializes. In Arabic, that is called taʿalluqun tanjīziyyun ḥādith. Taʿalluq: association. Tanjīziyy: the thing which materializes something; it causes something to come into being. Ḥādith: created. It is the created, effective association. This is a poor translation.

And the first one, where He had the ability to create everything, is called taʿalluqun ṣulūḥiyyun qadīm. Readers who do not understand Arabic, or who are not as advanced in this, need not worry about it. It is not something that has to be known. It is given here only for the benefit of those who have studied something. It is called taʿalluqun ṣulūḥiyyun qadīm. Taʿalluq means association. Ṣulūḥ means potential ability, in the definite sense of it; not as in: this child has the ability to become a scholar, but he may never do it. Allah has the ability, and He can put it into action anytime. Ṣulūḥ, and qadīm, eternal. So: the eternal potential association.

Take, for example, seeing: Allah's sight, which is without the need of any instruments or implements or anything like that, and the things which are seen, or seeable. It is the same thing. Both associations are going to be in this attribute, because He had the ability to see whatever He wanted to see, and everything, in fact. That is an eternal association. But then, when the things came into being, He is seeing them.