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.

To those who ask: “Where is God or

Allah?”

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

Abu Hanifah replied: “Allah existed first -

before history and before time.

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

He asked: “What comes before two?”

They replied: “One”.

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

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.”

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

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

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?”

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

smoke or vapor?”

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

He added: "Did he speak to you after he was pronounced dead?"

They said: "No."

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

He said: “What changed him?”

They said: “His soul departed.”

He said: “Then isn’t it true that his soul left his body?

They said: “Yes.”

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

They replied: “We know nothing about

it.”

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

Let’s repeat this prayer together:

“Oh, Allah.”

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

the weak.

Oh Allah, if you make me

rich, do not deprive me of

happiness.

If You Grant me strength, do not take

away my mental faculties.

If you make me successful,

do not deprive me of modesty.

If you make me modest, do not deprive me

of my pride and dignity.

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

Teach me to judge myself

before I judge others.

Teach me that tolerance is the

greatest strength.

And that vengeance is the first

sign of weakness.

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

Do not make me despair if I fail.

Please let me always remember

that failure precedes success.

Oh Allah, if you deprive

me of my wealth, do not let me

despair.

If you take away my success,

give me the strength to overcome

failure.

If you deprive me

of good health, do

not deprive me of faith.

Oh Allah, if I hurt others,

give me the strength to

apologize.

If people hurt me,

give me the strength to

forgive.

If I am oblivious to Thee,

do not deprive me of Your

Forgiveness and Patience.

Oh Allah, You are the All-

Powerful, All-Merciful

and All-Capable

Ameen.