The True Creator, The True Owner, and The True Sustainer

The True Creator, The True Owner, and The True Sustainer

Introduction

The foundation of Islamic belief rests upon recognizing Allah Almighty as the Absolute Reality — the only True Creator, the only True Owner, and the only True Sustainer. Human beings may claim creativity, ownership, and provision in a limited sense, but these are merely temporary and dependent attributes. The ultimate authority belongs to Allah alone.

Understanding this distinction strengthens faith, clarifies divine sovereignty, and removes confusion between human capability and divine power.

Allah as The True Creator (Al-Khāliq)

Allah alone is the True Creator. He created the heavens, the earth, and all living beings. The Qur’anic narrative explains that life itself was created from water, signifying divine origin and absolute power.

Human beings often describe themselves as “creators” — inventing machines, constructing buildings, or designing technology. However, human creation is not true creation. It is rearrangement.

When a person manufactures a computer or builds a structure, they depend entirely upon pre-existing materials — metals, minerals, energy, intellect, and natural laws — all of which are already created by Allah. Human beings cannot create matter from nothing. They cannot bring existence out of non-existence.

The True Creator is the One who brings something into existence without dependence on prior material, assistance, or limitation. That attribute belongs to Allah alone.

Any being dependent upon resources cannot be the Absolute Creator.

Allah as The True Owner (Al-Mālik)

In worldly terms, a person may buy land, property, or possessions and become an “owner.” However, this ownership is conditional, temporary, and limited.

True ownership means complete authority over the essence and function of a thing — including the power to alter or suspend its natural properties.

Only Allah possesses such authority.

Consider the divine examples:

• A knife cuts by its inherent property. Yet when it was placed upon the throat of Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him), its cutting ability was withdrawn.
• Fire burns by nature. Yet for Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), the burning property of fire was suspended.
• Water flows continuously. Yet for Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), the sea parted and its flowing nature was restrained.

If a human were the true owner, he would have absolute control over the intrinsic qualities of things. But no human can suspend gravity, stop fire from burning universally, or command oceans to divide at will.

The One who can remove or alter natural laws is the True Owner — and that is Allah alone.

Allah as The True Sustainer (Ar-Rāziq)

Human beings may provide sustenance to families, communities, or even nations. Governments distribute food. Wealthy individuals fund relief efforts. Yet all human provision is limited by resources, systems, and capacity.

No human can feed every creature on earth simultaneously. No government can guarantee sustenance for every living being without failure.

Allah, however, provides for all — from the largest creatures roaming the earth to the smallest insect hidden within stone. His provision is continuous, precise, and universal.

He sustains:

• The birds in the sky
• The creatures in the depths of the oceans
• The animals in deserts
• The unseen life hidden within rocks

Such comprehensive sustenance cannot belong to anyone but Allah.

The Difference Between Apparent Power and Absolute Power

Human beings possess delegated, limited power.

Allah possesses independent, absolute power.

Humans act within laws of nature.

Allah created those laws — and can suspend them.

Humans own temporarily.

Allah owns eternally.

Humans provide partially.

Allah provides universally.

This distinction is the essence of Tawḥīd (Divine Unity).

Conclusion

Allah alone is:

• The True Creator — who brings existence from non-existence.
• The True Owner — who controls the very nature of creation.
• The True Sustainer — who provides for every living being without limitation.

All other forms of creation, ownership, and provision are dependent, temporary, and symbolic.

Thus, the ultimate reality remains:

He alone is the Creator.

He alone is the Owner.

He alone is the Sustainer.