What do "al-azali" and "al-qadim" mean, in detail?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Oct 24, 2026
"Al-Azali" (the Eternal) and "Al-Qadim Al-Mutlaq" (the Absolutely Ancient) both refer to that which is not preceded by non-existence, or that which has no beginning, or that which is not preceded by any time. "Al-Qadim" (the Ancient) is used by theologians to mean that whose existence is not from another. "Al-Azal" (Eternity) is that which has no beginning at its inception, similar to "Al-Qidam" (Antiquity). "Al-Azali" (the Eternal) is more general than "Al-Qadim" (the Ancient), because the non-existence of created things is eternal, but not ancient.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- 179929
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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