Change is a proof of creation because the Islamic theologian’s claim is that: everything outside of God has an origination and is dependent on Him. The proof of this is that every thing is subject to change.
This proof is rationally proven from the Quran itself.
The Quran often points to the phenomenon of change in the dunya, one such verse is below. These verses tell is God telling us that all this change is completely out of mankind’s control and under His Subsistence. Then, God makes a challenge to mankind in another verse, that if mankind claims they can sustain themselves, then they must change the phenomenon of ‘change’ in the dunya if they claim to be truthful. This claim is widespread today in all modern civilizations. A clear example is when the Soviet government during the world wars attempted to recreate a human body with scientific substances and electrocuting those substances in the theory it would create and sustain human life. God is saying that true subsistence is for the thing to subsist itself with nothing else helping except for oneself. Obviously, this is impossible as everything that exists is only sustained by God.
Creation necessarily possesses the attribute of origination, the opposite of which is Beginninglessness (qidam, قِدَم) which is a necessary attribute of Allah that only He possesses.
Things that change or have the possibility to change falls under a possible rational ruling. It is possible in that in can change or not change; it could be or not be. It is rational in that the change occurring from start to end is rationally sound.
Whatever falls under the possible has two outcomes: it can either be or not be. It can never be necessary or impossible. Whereas the necessary and impossible are pre-loaded, they have fixed conclusions. That is to say, they don’t have the options to be this or that. See: The Rulings and Their Types.
The two possible outcomes in regards to creation is first the default position of a creation not being created. And the second outcome is the creation being created. This the default position is non-existence (not being created) then, therefore, all possible things must have a Creator to bring it into being.
Islamic doctrine states Allah is the Creator and everything other than Him is a possibility to come into existence or not. All creation are mere possibilities and they are subject to change, emergent/originated.
One such verses that proves change in creation is in Surah Ali Imran (3:190-200):
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of day and night are signs for people of understanding. Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and on their sides - and reflect on the creation of the heaves and the earth: “Our Lord! You have not created (all of) this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire.
Everything enveloped by night and day (the world) is in a state of constant change, just like the moon and the sun that bring night and day are in constant change. All these phenonmenon are of the same category. And another verse mentions, “And it it are numerous signs that point to the Designer, all causes us to remember Allah and prove purpose in the Design.” By reflecting on these verses one will conclude that all creation is in a state of change.
Furthermore, the key reality that points to the existence of God is change. Whether it is actual change or potential change. Something that changes, can change, or changed means it is necessarily originated. Finally, the creation changes but the Creator does not.
In Jawharat at-Tawhid it states:
So look to yourself, then turn to the higher and lower worlds. You’ll find a creation of marvel and perfection, but in it is the proof of its nothingness. Everything for which non-existence is possible couldn’t possibly be eternal.
Thus, everything changes, whether its actual or potential change. And anything subject to change is necessarily two things:
- It is originated (haddith), and
- It is needy (muftaqir).
Needy (muftaqir) is any thing that is originated is merely possible and thus needs and originator. Things that are given to change are originated, all origination comes from nothing and need a cause for it to come into being. Without a cause, all things are just the unoriginated possibilities of Allah’s Ilm. And so, there can be only One Creator.