الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 1, page 90

6. Ali ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ’Amr ibn ’Uthman from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn Suma‘ah from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), who has said the following. “Ra’sul Jalut said to the Jews, ‘The Muslims consider Ali excelling everyone in polemics and the most learned. Let us go to him. I will ask him certain questions and perhaps catch him in errors.’” He went to the Imam (a.s.) and said, “O Amirul Mu’minin, I have a question about a matter.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ask about whatever you like.” He then asked, “O Amirul Mu’minin, when did our Lord come into existence?” Imam Ali replied, “O Jew, the question When applies to one who did not exist and (then) came into being. Allah has exists without coming into being, and without being in any becoming. Certainly, O Jew, most certainly, O Jew, how can there be any before for He Who was before the before. He does not have any destination. He is not the end of any destination and no destination ends up to Him. All destinations fall short before Him and He is the goal of all destinations.” The Jew then said, “I testify that your religion is the true religion and any thing against it is false.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

7. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated in a marfu‘ manner from Zurarah who has said that I asked Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) this. “Did Allah exist when there was nothing?” The Imam replied, “Certainly, Allah existed when there was nothing.” I further inquired, “Where did Allah exist?” The Imam was leaning, he then sat up and said, “O Zurarah, you spoke of impossible. You ask about space where there is no space.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

8. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid from ibn Abu Nasr from Abul Hassan al-Muwsali who has narrated the following from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.): “A rabbi came to Imam Ali (a.s.) and asked, ‘O Amirul Mu’minin, when did your Lord come into existence?’” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Consider carefully. The question when applies to one who did not exist (and then came into being). When does not apply to the One Who is eternal. He was before the before without before and after the after without an after. He is not the end of some end so that His end would also end.” He then asked, “Are you a prophet?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Bereft of you be your mother! I am a slave among the slaves of the Messenger of Allah (saww).”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.