—the Qur’an itself, as in His words:

“Alif, Lām, Rā. These are the verses of the Book and a clear Qur’an.” ⦗15:1⦘

and His words:

“Ṭā, Sīn. These are the verses of the Qur’an and a manifest Book.” ⦗27:1⦘

and His words:

“Ṭā, Sīn, Mīm. These are the verses of the clear Book.” ⦗28:1–2⦘

and His words:

“Ḥā, Mīm… ʿAyn, Sīn, Qāf. Thus does Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise, reveal to you and to those before you.” ⦗42:1–3⦘

and His words:

“Thus We have revealed to you an Arabic Qur’an.” ⦗42:7⦘

and His words:

“Alif, Lām, Mīm, Rā. These are the verses of the Book; what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the truth.” ⦗13:1⦘

Verses of this type are numerous. When He revealed sayings such as

“That is the Book” or “These are the verses of the Book” ⦗10:1–2⦘ and the like, the Book to which the demonstrative refers had not been sent down at that very moment; rather, parts of it had already been revealed earlier. It was therefore treated like something absent to which one points, just as one points to someone who is away. Yet, by virtue of its being present with the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—it is also pointed to as one points to something present, as He, Exalted is He, said:

“And this is a blessed Reminder which We have sent down.” ⦗21:50⦘