—the speaker’s assertion that “the Qur’an is letters and a sound subsisting in Him” is an innovation, and his further claim that “it is a meaning subsisting in His Essence” (1) is likewise an innovation. None of the early generations affirmed either of these two views. As for me (2), there is nothing innovative in my words; rather, my words convey the unanimous position of the Salaf that the Qur’an is the Speech of Allah, uncreated (3).

With respect to the speaker’s statement, “He is not to be pointed at with the fingers in a physical sense,” this wording does not occur in my discourse. On the contrary, in my discourse (4) I repudiate the novel negating phrases introduced by the innovators, such as their saying, “He is not to be pointed at,” for this act of negation, too, is an innovation.

If the speaker intends by it that He is not pointed at because He is not confined within created things, or any other sound meaning, then that is correct. But if he intends that one who supplicates to Allah should not raise his hands toward Him, then this contradicts the mass-transmitted Sunnahs from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and the innate disposition upon which Allah has created His servants, namely raising the hands toward Allah in supplication. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “Allah is Modest and Generous; He feels shy that His servant should raise his hands to Him and He return them to him empty-handed” (5). And if someone calls that a physical indication and says that it