هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ.
He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He knows everything. (Al-Ḥadīd 57:3)
Al-Awwal affirms His true firstness, and Al-Ākhir His true lastness.
He existed when none else existed and will remain when none else remains. The verse also affirms His manifestation, hiddenness, and knowledge of all things.