Children around 6 to 9 often ask this. It shows they are thinking, not that their faith is weak. How you react matters as much as what you say.
Step 1: welcome the question
“That’s a really clever question. Let’s think about it together.” Never “We don’t ask that!” Shutting the question down teaches children to stop asking you.
Step 2: the simple answer
“Everything in the world was made: you, me, the trees, the sky. But Allah was not made. He has always been there, and He always will be. He is the One who made everything else.”
Allah describes Himself as “the First and the Last” (Quran 57:3), and in Al-Ikhlas: “He neither gives birth nor was He born” (Quran 112:3).
Step 3: an example for their age
| Age | Example |
|---|---|
| 5–7 | “Your toys were made by someone. But Allah is not a thing, so nobody made Him. He made everything.” |
| 8–11 | “Imagine a line of dominoes. Each one falls because the one before pushed it. But something had to start the first push without being pushed. That is Allah.” |
Step 4: what the Prophet ﷺ taught
The Prophet ﷺ said that Shaytan may whisper “Who created this? Who created that?” until he asks “Who created your Lord?”, and when that thought comes, one should seek refuge in Allah and stop there (Sahih al-Bukhari 3276). For older children, explain that some questions have no end, and the wise thing is to say “A‘udhu billah” and remember what we know: Allah is the Creator.
Teacher’s tip: finish with “Any more questions? You can always ask me.” A child who feels safe asking you will not look for answers in the wrong places.
