Advance and delay
are both universal and Shariah-related:
As an example of the universal advance and delay, Allah Almighty puts some of His creatures ahead of others in terms of creation and existence. In a Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The first thing Allah created was the pen”
.[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Sahīh (authentic)]
He created the heavens and the earth in six days, put the creation of the angels ahead of the creation of the jinn and humans, and put the creation of the jinn ahead of the creation of humans.
He says:
{And the jinn We created before that, from smokeless fire.}
[Surat al - Hijr: 27]
Adam (peace be upon him) was the first human created and then his children followed him in terms of creation and existence. They come in succession -some earlier and some later.
It does not follow that those who were created earlier are superior to those who were created later. In fact, Adam was created at the end of the six days. Nonetheless, he and his children are given preference over many of those created before them
.
{We have honored the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, provided for them good things and favored them above many of those whom We have created.}
[Surat al - Isrā’: 70]
“The first thing Allah created was the pen.”
[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd; Sahīh ( auth entic)]
He created the heavens and the earth in six days, put the creation of the angels ahead of the creation of the jinn and humans, and put the creation of the jinn ahead of the creation of humans. He says:
{And the jinn We created before that, from smokeless fire.}
[Surat al - Hijr: 27]
Adam (peace be upon him) was the first human created and then his children followed him in terms of creation and existence. They come in succession -some earlier and some later.
It does not follow that those who were created earlier are superior to those who were created later. In fact, Adam was created at the end of the six days. Nonetheless, he and his children are given preference over many of those created before them.
{We have honored the children of Adam, carried the m on land and se a, provided for them good things and favored them above many of those whom We have created.}
[Surat al - Isrā’: 70]
Moreover, Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is the Seal of all prophets and he is the best of them; and his Ummah is the last nation and the best of all nations.
On the other hand, those who come earlier may be superior to those who come later. An example is Prophet Ibrāhim (Abraham) (peace be upon him). He is the father of prophets and better than all prophets and messengers who came after him, except for Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).
As for the Shariah-related advance and delay, the Adhān (call to prayer), for example, comes ahead of prayer, and the Friday sermon is before the Friday prayer. Acts of worship have a specific order in terms of their requirements and duties, without which they may be invalid.
The Shariah-related advance also includes giving precedence to some acts of worship and persons over others. Obligations, for instance, are dearer to Allah than the supererogatory acts. Moreover, the best among people are the prophets and messengers, who also enjoy varying degrees of excellence and merit, which also applies to ordinary people, some of whom are better than others.
When the believer knows that Allah is the Advancer and the Delayer, he will get deeply attached to Him alone and implore Him to grant him faith and steadfastness, and he will rely upon Him, for none can advance what He delays or delay what He advances.
