What is the ruling on using the word "to create" (خلق) to describe the origination of something, such as "creating new jobs," considering the noble verse: "Is then He who creates like one who does not create? So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators" (أفمن يخلق كمن لا يخلق، فتبارك الله أحسن الخالقين)? And does "the Best of creators" (أحسن الخالقين) indicate that someone other than Allah may create? And what is the ruling on using the English word "create," which is sometimes translated as "to create" (خلق)?

In the Arabic language, al-khalq (creation) refers to making and proportioning, and it may metaphorically mean bringing into existence, which is permissible in Islamic law. This is supported by the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying regarding imagemakers: "Bring to life what you have created," and by the statements of Al-Baghawi and Mujahid: "Al-khalq in the language means proportioning and making."

Ibn Ashour holds that the origin of al-khalq is bringing into existence with proportion and equalization. In Islamic terminology, it means bringing things from non-existence into existence. This term is specific to Allah Almighty and is not applied to anyone else except metaphorically.

Al-Ghazali believes that a servant's share in the name "the Creator" is a distant metaphor, conditioned upon inventing things that have not been preceded.

As for the Almighty's saying: "So blessed be Allah, the best of creators," Al-Azhar's fatwas have interpreted it to mean that the superlative form does not necessarily imply the existence of other creators. Rather, it points to Allah's unique creativity and craftsmanship.

Ibn Uthaymeen mentioned that Allah Almighty alone is the Creator, and there is no creator other than Him. He also stated that the creation attributed to a created being is merely the transformation of something from one state to another, and not bringing into existence from non-existence.