Abu Hanifah was asked questions by nonbelievers about the nature and existence of God. When asked where God is located, Abu Hanifah responded that God existed before time and history began, and nothing precedes God. When asked to define God's entity as solid, liquid, or gas, Abu Hanifah used the example of the human soul departing the body at death to illustrate that we cannot define God in human terms since we do not fully understand entities like the soul. Abu Hanifah concluded that if we cannot define the soul, then we cannot expect to describe God's divine entity.

2. Many people – including
Muslims ask: “Where is God
or Allah? What Image does
God or Allah have?”
These questions cannot be
easily answered, but let’s see
how Imam Abu Hanifah
responded when he was asked
such questions by
nonbelievers.

3. To those who ask: “Where is
God or Allah?”

4. The atheists asked Abu Hanifah:
“When was your Lord born?”

5. Abu Hanifah replied:
“Allah existed first -
before history and
before time.

6. He added:
“What comes before
three?”
They replied: “Two.”

7. He asked:
“What comes before
two?”
They replied: “One.”

8. Abu Hanifah said:
“What comes before one?”
They replied: “Nothing.”

9. He said: “If the number ‘one’
is not preceded by anything,
then how can the True One
and Only God
(Allah) be preceded by
anything. Allah is Ancient and
Eternal. Nothing precedes
Him.”

10. They asked:
“In which direction does
your Lord move?”

11. He asked: “If you bring a
lantern into a dark place,
in which direction will its
light move?”
They replied: “In every
direction.”

12. Abu Hanifah said:
“If this is how the
lantern’s light
radiates, then how
about Allah’s Light -
the Light of the
Heavens and the
Earth?”

13. They said: “Define your
Lord’s entity. Is your
Lord solid like iron;
liquid like water; or
gaseous like smoke or
vapor?”

14. He asked: “Have you ever
sat beside a dying
patient?”
They said: “Yes, we have.

15. He added: "Did he speak to you
after he was pronounced dead?"
They said: "No."

16. Abu Hanifah asked:
“Before he died, did he not
talk and move?”
They said: “Yes.”

17. He said: “What changed
him?”
They said: “His soul
departed.”

18. He said: “Then isn’t it
true that his soul left
his body?
They said: “Yes.”

19. Abu Hanifah asked:
“Could you describe his
soul? Is it solid like iron;
liquid like water; or
gaseous like smoke or
vapor?”

20. They replied: “We
know nothing about
it.”

21. He said: “If you cannot define
the entity of this created soul,
then how can you expect me to
describe the Divine Entity.”

22. Let’s repeat this prayer
together: “Oh, Allah.”

23. Allah, help me to uphold the
truth against tyrants; and
prevent me from advocating
injustice to gain the
applause of the weak.

24. Oh Allah, if you make me
rich, do not deprive me of
happiness.

25. If you grant me
strength, do not take
away my mental
faculties.

26. If you make me
successful, do not
deprive me of
modesty.

27. If you make me
modest, do not
deprive me of my
pride and
dignity.

28. Oh Allah, teach me
to love others as
much as I love
myself.

29. Teach me to
judge myself
before I judge
others.

30. Teach me that
tolerance is the
greatest strength.

31. And that
vengeance is the
first sign of
weakness.

32. Oh Allah, if you
grant me
success,do not
blind me by vanity.

33. Do not make
me despair if I
fail.

34. Please let me
always
remember that
failure precedes
success.

35. Oh Allah, if you
deprive me of my
wealth, do not let
me despair.

36. If you take away
my success, give
me the strength
to overcome
failure.

37. If you deprive
me of good
health, do not
deprive me of
faith.

38. Oh Allah, if I hurt
others, give me the
strength to
apologize.

39. If people hurt
me, give me the
strength to
forgive.

40. If I am oblivious to
Thee, do not deprive
me of Your
Forgiveness and
Patience.

41. Oh Allah, You are
the All-Powerful,
All-Merciful and
All-Capable

42. Ameen.

43. Dear Muslims:
Please send this presentation
to all your friends.
May Allah reward you for this
good deed on the Day of
Judgment.
Please also pray for the
author, and the translator.