Was the Pen first thing created by Allah subhanahu Wa ta'aala or the 'Arsh?

Following are a few ahadith proving that the pen was created before the 'Arsh by Allah subhanahu wa taala.

Its been narrated by 'Imran bin Hussain: "people from Yemen came to the Prophet and said," We have come to you to learn the religion. So we ask you what the beginning of this universe was." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,"There was Allh and nothing else before Him, and His Throne was over the water, and He then created the heavens and the earth and wrote everything in the Book."" Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol:9 Hadith #7418, pg. 310. (the book of Tauhid)

What is meant by the pen Allah caused to write the decree when He wrote the decrees of all creation, and this took place fifty-thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth. For this they present hadiths that have been reported about the Pen. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Walid bin 'Ubaadah bin as-Saamit

that he said, "My father called for me when he was dying and he said to me: Verily, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say ((Verily, the first of what Allah created was the Pen. He (Allah) said, 'Write' It said, ' What shall I write?" He (Allah) said: "Write the decree (al-qadra) and whatever will throughout eternity.''))". pg 102 Tafsir Ibn Kathir Vol 10.

This hadith has been recorded by Imam Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi who said about it, "Hasan, Sahih, Gharib.

In the light of the above hadith it proves that the pen was created before the 'Arsh. Although there are difference of opinion which hold that the pen was created later and Allah knows best.

Meaning of Al-Lawh Al-Mahfouz: 1.Ibn Manzoor said: Al-Lawh: al-Lawh al-Mahfooz, as in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning), (Inscribed) in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz (the Preserved Tablet) [al-Burooj 85:22] means, the place where the decrees of Allaah are kept. Every wide bone is a lawh.

The plural form is alwaah. (Lisaan al-Arab, 2/584).

2. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Preserved: most readers recite this with a kasrah, i.e., it is a description of the Lawh. This indicates that the shayaateen are not able to bring it down, because its location is protected and they cannot reach it. And it is itself protected, so the Shaytaan cannot add anything to it or take anything away from it. Allaah, may He be glorified, has described it as protected or guarded in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Quraan) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). [al-Hijr 15:9]. And its location is also described as being guarded in this soorah. Allaah, may He be glorified, is protecting its location, and protecting it from having anything added or taken away, or being distorted. He is protecting its meanings from being twisted, just as He is protecting its words from being changed, and He is protecting its letters so that nothing is added or taken away

(al-Tabyaan fi Aqsaam al-Quraan, p. 62). <http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/7002/lawh%20al%20mahfooz>

3. In Tafsir Ibn Kathir it states the meaning of Al Lawh Al Mahfuz, "among the most high gathering, guarded from any increase, decrease, distortion or change." p.g. 436, tafsir Ibn kathir vol 10.

Verses in which Lawh Al Mahfouz is mentioned:

V21-22: Nay This is Glorious Quran. (22) In Al-Lawh Al-Mahfouz.

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