187 — Ibn Makhlad narrated to us, saying: Abū Dāwūd al-Sijistānī narrated to us, saying: I heard Ahmad ask, “Is a man permitted to say, ‘The Quran is the speech of Allah,’ and then remain silent?” He said, “Why should he remain silent? Had people not become embroiled in this issue, he could have remained silent. But since they have said what they have said, why do they not speak?” ⦗528⦘

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn said: Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s statement means that the people of faith had never differed over the fact that the Quran is the speech of Allah Most High. Then Jahm ibn Safwān came and introduced unbelief by declaring, “The Quran is created.” The scholars therefore had no choice but to refute him by affirming that the Quran is the uncreated speech of Allah, without any doubt or suspension of judgment concerning it. Anyone who did not say “uncreated” was called one who suspended judgment and doubted his religion.