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The_Foundations_of_the_Islamic_Belief, page : 144
Obligation or necessity means one of two things: First, an act which, when it is refrained from
causes
future harm. As when it is said that it is obligatory for mankind to obey Allah if they want to
escape
torment by fire in the Hereafter, or immediate harm as is the case when we say that it is
obligatory for
him who is thirsty to drink otherwise he might die.
Second, it means that which its non-existence would lead to an impossibility. As it is said that the
existence of that which is known is necessary since its non-existence will lead to an
impossibility, namely
knowledge becoming ignorance.
If the adversary meant that the act of creation is necessary for Allah according to the first
meaning, he
would have exposed Him to harm.
If he implied the second meaning, he would be in agreement, because the precedence of knowledge
necessitates the existence of the known. However, if he implied a third meaning, it is
causes
future harm. As when it is said that it is obligatory for mankind to obey Allah if they want to
escape
torment by fire in the Hereafter, or immediate harm as is the case when we say that it is
obligatory for
him who is thirsty to drink otherwise he might die.
Second, it means that which its non-existence would lead to an impossibility. As it is said that the
existence of that which is known is necessary since its non-existence will lead to an
impossibility, namely
knowledge becoming ignorance.
If the adversary meant that the act of creation is necessary for Allah according to the first
meaning, he
would have exposed Him to harm.
If he implied the second meaning, he would be in agreement, because the precedence of knowledge
necessitates the existence of the known. However, if he implied a third meaning, it is