According to some philosophers, there were initially both matter and God, and the universe came into existence from this matter. Deists believe that although God created the universe, He is inactive in its day-to-day functioning. Some say that God is involved in major affairs of the universe but not in minor matters. Pantheists do not differentiate between God and the universe. Polytheists suggest various gods for conducting various tasks. All such concepts are far away from reality, as per the teachings of the prophets and the teachings of Islam. Here I have included some key Islamic concepts related to the relationship of God with the universe: 

• Only Allah SWT was initially present. He created the universe as per His knowledge, power, and will. There was nothing except Allah SWT in the beginning. There was no matter or anything else. Then Allah SWT brought the universe into existence. According to the Holy Quran, “(Allah is) the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have a son when He never had a wife? He created everything, and He knows everything.” (Surah An’am, Ayat 101). Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, “… First of all, there was nothing but Allah …” (Reported in Bukhari)

• Allah SWT is not only the Creator of the universe but is also its Sustainer. According to the Holy Quran, “Allah: There is no god but He, the Living, the All-Sustaining. Neither dozing overtakes Him nor sleep. …… and it does not weary Him to look after them (heavens and the earth)…” (Surah Baqarah, Ayat 255). 

• The universe exists due to the concentration and will of Allah SWT. Allah SWT can bring an end to it or drastically modify it whenever He wills. According to the Holy Quran, “…and the matter of Hour (of Judgment) is no more than of twinkling of the eye, or even quicker.…” (Surah Nahl, Ayat 77)

• Whatever is happening in this universe is under Allah’s SWT control and is happening according to His will. According to the Holy Quran, “If Allah brings some harm to you, there is none to remove it except He. And if He intends to bring some good to you, there is none to turn His grace back. …” (Surah Yunus, Ayat 107)

• Nothing is hidden from Allah SWT whether it is visible or concealed. According to the Holy Quran, “He is the First and the Last, and the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is All-Knowing about everything.” (Surah Hadid, Ayat 3). 

• Allah SWT is present everywhere. Certain verses of the Holy Quran suggest that Allah SWT is present on His throne. Whereas certain other verses suggest that Allah SWT is with everyone. According to the Holy Quran, “He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He positioned Himself on the Throne. He knows whatever goes into the earth and whatever comes out from it, and whatever descends from the sky, and whatever ascends thereto. He is with you wherever you are, and Allah is watchful of whatever you do.” (Surah Hadid, Ayat 4). At another place in the Holy Quran, Allah SWT says, “Indeed We have created man, and We know whatever thoughts his inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein.” (Surah Qaf, Ayat 16). This can be possible only for someone who is not bound by time, space, and matter. Allah SWT is the creator of time, space, and matter; therefore, He is not bound to these factors. Such verses of the Holy Quran are considered “Mutashabihat”, whose exact meaning cannot be determined by us. Regarding “Mutashabiaht”, I have already quoted the Holy Quran, “…while no one knows its interpretation except Allah; and those well-grounded in knowledge say: We believe therein; all is from our Lord. …” (Surah Aali Imran, Ayat 7). Thus, Muslims believe in all such verses but also know that we cannot fully interpret them. We cannot even imagine anything independent of time and space. 

ANALOGY

An analogy is given by some people to understand the relationship of Allah SWT with the universe to some extent. This analogy, originally developed by Shah Ismail Shaheed, is very well explained by Maulana Manazir Ahsan Gilani.  You can understand this analogy very well just by doing the following thought experiment. 

Think about a small building and focus on it in your mind. Create an image of this building in your mind. This building in your imagination can be called your creation, as you created it in your mind. Your relationship with this creation of yours can be compared to some extent with the relationship of Allah SWT with the universe in the following ways:

1. The image of the building was not initially present in your thoughts, but you created it. In the same way, the universe initially did not exist, and only Allah SWT existed. Then Allah SWT created the universe without any matter.

2. You can at any time put an end to your imaginary creation of this building just by discontinuing to concentrate on it. Similarly, Allah SWT can bring an end to this universe anytime He wants.  

3. Your imaginary building was created with the help of your concentration and sustained due to your continued concentration on it. In the same way, Allah SWT not only created the universe but He is also its Sustainer.  

4. Your created building is separate from you, as neither you have become the building nor the building has become you. In the same way, Allah SWT is separate from the universe. Neither He has become the universe nor the universe has become God. 

5. You seem to be present everywhere in your created building. You find yourself in its rooms, its roof, its walls, etc. Similarly, Allah SWT is everywhere in this universe. The Holy Quran has mentioned the presence of Allah SWT in different verses in various ways. Some verses refer to His throne, while some state that He is closer to us than our jugular veins. 

6. You have created this building with its full length, breadth, and height. Despite its large dimensions, you have surrounded this building with your thoughts. Similarly, Allah SWT fully encompasses everything in the universe. Nothing is beyond His reach. 

7. You have full control over your imaginary building. No one can even move a brick from this building except you. In the same way, whatever is happening in this universe is under Allah’s SWT full control. Nothing can happen in this universe without His permission. 

8. When you have created the building in your mind then are you not in the same place where the building is? Similarly, the universe is the creation of Allah SWT. Therefore, questions like “Where is God?” and “Where is the universe?” are simply meaningless. Allah SWT is everywhere with us. 

After this interesting analogy, I am ending with the following beautiful verse of the Holy Quran: