And had He not created, it would not be permissible to say of Him: Creator. Even if the act was with Him eternally [Qadiman] by capacity [Istita'a], [it became] manifest and originated [Muhdath] by His origination of it.

If you say: The Creator [Al-Bari], Exalted is He, was [existent] while there was no creation, and [He was] an Attribute while there was no describer and no described, and this is the relation of the Ancient [Al-Qadim], then He created the creation. So how do we say that He has never ceased creating?

The answer: We say: The acts of His creation are what need time and place so that it may be said: [Before, and after]. But the Ancient [Al-Qadim], His acts do not need time nor place, since He is the Originator [Muhdith] of place and time. Rather, His act is the act of capacity [Istita'a] in the doer before he manifests it into action, and this is a sufficient statement.

And Praise be to Allah alone.