I am a young Muslim man who studies in the United States. Once, an atheist said to me, “As long as Allaah is able to do anything, as you believe, can He create a big rock that He Himself cannot move? Also, since you believe that Allaah created this life in seven days and created Aadam (Adam) and Hawwaa’ (Eve) (may Allaah exalt their mention) then what was He doing before that?”

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Our righteous predecessors used to avoid accompanying people who brought up such malicious ideas because accompanying them causes a believer to become doubtful, especially if the person is not qualified to take part in such debates. You should avoid such situations.

However, in answer to the atheist's first question, Allaah The Almighty is capable of doing anything, so how would He create a rock that He would not be able to move? In fact, the created thing is regarded as a molecule in space that Allaah The Almighty moves however He wills and puts an end to its existence whenever He wills. Can man imagine that a rock would be greater than the earth, the skies and the planets that orbit? On the Day of Judgment, Allaah The Almighty will fold the heavens and earth. Thus, this question is totally inappropriate, as Allaah The Almighty is capable of creating such a rock as well as moving or destroying it. Assuming that Allaah The Almighty would be unable to do something is considered a denial of His Power and Ability.

There is nothing like Allaah The Almighty; no similitude should be coined for Him; He is not to be questioned about what He does as He does everything with wisdom. In fact, the signs of the wondrous Ability of Allaah The Almighty are clear to everyone, and they would only go unnoticed by those whom Allaah The Almighty has blinded their insight. This atheist should think of the greatest thing he has ever seen;  whether it is a sea, a mountain or a planet and he should realize that this is a created thing that was not created by chance. This perfect order is organized by a Great Organizer who is Allaah The Exalted.

Let that person think of the simplest inventions, such as the electric light bulb. If he thought that its material and wires happened to come together by chance, and that there was no maker who enabled it to light up, that would be considered nonsense. Therefore, what about this world and all the great creation it contains? Did all these things come together by chance? Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

·        {Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain.} [Quran 52:35,36]

·        {And in yourselves. Then will you not see?} [Quran 51:21]

·        {Then do they not look at the camels - how they are created? And at the sky - how it is raised? And at the mountains - how they are erected? And at the earth - how it is spread out?} [Quran 88:17,18,19,20]

Thus, Allaah The Almighty urges mankind to observe His creation so that they would know His greatness.

Regarding the second question; what was Allaah The Almighty doing before creating the heavens, the earth and Aadam and Hawwaa’, may Allaah exalt their mention, The answer is as follows:

Allaah The Almighty has told us about the creation of the heavens, the earth, Aadam and the Pen that was used for writing the destiny of all the creation. Moreover, He told us that the angels and Jinn had existed before the creation of Aadam . Therefore, we should believe in this and not ask about the Unseen that Allaah The Almighty did not tell us about. At the same time, we should believe that Allaah The Almighty is All-Knowing and the Creator. The attribute of creation is an established attribute of Allaah The Almighty just like any other attribute of Him and it does not depend on the creation of the creatures that we know about.  Allaah The Almighty was the Creator even before creating the creatures that we can see. Allaah The Almighty did not tell us about all of His creatures. Thus, we should believe in what Allaah The Almighty told us  and not ask any further questions.

At-Tahaawi who was a  Hanafi scholar, said that Allaah The Almighty is the Creator without a  need to be, the Provider, without being burdened with  that, the One who renders the living dead - without being afraid of the consequences, and the one who resurrects people without difficulty. Allaah The Almighty has been the First before creating His creatures, and He has been the Evolver, even without evolving His creatures. The attribute of Lordship is established to be His even before the existence of the subjugated creation. He has possessed His attributes forever - regardless of  the creation.  He has ever been the Creator regardless of creating His creation.  Allaah The Almighty has been the Restorer of life after death even before the time of Resurrection. Likewise, He is the Creator prior to creating any creature.

The basic rule upon which faith is based is: {He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.} [Quran 21:23]

We ask Allaah The Almighty to guide us to what pleases Him.

Allaah Knows best.