ʿAbd Allah ibn Ahmad related, “My father was asked—in my presence—about the Lafziyyah and the Waqifah. He replied, ‘Anyone among them who is skilled in kalam (dialectical theology) is a Jahmi.’
Al-Hakam ibn Maʿbad said, “Ahmad al-Dawraqi narrated to me: I asked Ahmad ibn Ḥanbal, ‘What is your verdict on those who say, “My utterance of the Qur’an is created”?’ I saw him straighten up, his manner becoming solemn, and he declared, ‘This is worse than the statement of the Jahmiyyah. Whoever alleges this is, in effect, alleging that Gabriel spoke with something created and brought something created to the Prophet ﷺ.’
This Imām therefore would not allow probing into such debates, fearing that they might become a pretext for claiming that the Qur’an itself is created. Refraining from the discussion is safer. We believe in Allah—exalted is He—His angels, His scriptures, His messengers, His decrees, the resurrection, and the standing before Him on the Day of Judgement.
Were this single paragraph to be expanded, thoroughly examined, and supported with proofs, it would occupy five volumes; yet the material is already available for whoever seeks it. The Qur’an contains (1) “a healing and a mercy for the believers.” It is plain that articulation (talaffuẓ) is an act acquired by the reciter and is different from what is articulated; reading is distinct from the text that is read; recitation, together with its beauty and correct pronunciation, is other than the words recited; and the reciter’s voice is of his own making. He originates the articulation, the sound, the motion, the utterance, and the bringing forth of words by means of his created organs, but he does not originate the words of the Qur’an, nor their arrangement, composition, or meanings.
Thus Imām Abū ʿAbd Allah acted wisely when he forbade engagement in this issue from either direction, for both declaring the utterance to be created and declaring it to be uncreated lead to confusion, and neither position is affirmed by the Book or the Sunnah. What we are certain of is that the Qur’an is the revealed speech of Allah, uncreated—and Allah knows best.