Attributes of Essence and Attributes of Actions

15. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه said: al-Husayn ibn Aban said, on the authority of al-Husayn ibn Sa`d, on the authority of al-Nadr ibn Suwayd, on the authority of `Asin ibn Humayd, that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq عليه السلام saying that I asked him: “Has Allah always existed?” Thus, he عليه السلام replied, “Verily, the Willer can only exist if He has a Will. In fact, He has always been All-Knowing, All-Powerful, then He intended.”