—self-contradictory, for an act, too, cannot subsist in anyone other than the one who performs it; what can subsist in another is only the object acted upon.
As for the claim of those who say that “creation can only mean the created,” this is one of the Jahmiyyah’s innovations, and the great majority of Muslims are opposed to it. The leading Imams said the same. Imam Ahmad, for example, relates in his work Al-Radd ʿalā al-Zanādiqah wa-l-Jahmiyyah and said (1): Concerning the matter about which the Jahmi is questioned (2), he is told (3), “Do you find anywhere in the Book of Allah that it states the Quran is created?” He finds nothing (4). He is then asked, “So why did you say that?” (5) He replies (6) on the basis of Allah’s words, “Indeed, We have made it a Quran in clear Arabic” (7).
He alleged that everything that is “made” is therefore created (8). Thus he seized upon one ambiguous expression, using it as a proof for whoever wishes to distort the Revelation and to seek discord in
(1) Al-Radd ‘ala al-Jahmiyya wa-l-Zanādiqa (Response to the Jahmites and the Zindiqs) by Imam Aḥmad, pp. 106–110, 1st ed. Dar al-Liwa’, 1397 AH, ed. Dr. ʿAbd al-Raḥman ʿUmayra. This is the edition customarily used for text collation. Also: pp. 27–29, Cairo ed., 1399 AH, published by Qusai Muḥib al-Dīn al-Khaṭīb. The following text will compare these two editions in light of their differences.
(2) In both printings of Al-Radd ‘ala al-Jahmiyya: “famimma” (‘from what’).
(3) The term al-Jahmī is omitted in the Dar al-Liwa’ edition of Al-Radd ‘ala al-Jahmiyya but appears in the Cairo edition.
(4) In manuscripts s and t, and in both editions of Al-Radd ‘ala al-Jahmiyya: “falā” (‘so not’).
(5) In ms. s: “famā” (‘so what’); in ms. t: “faymā” (‘so wherein’); in both printings of Al-Radd ‘ala al-Jahmiyya: “famin ayna” (‘so from where’). It is preceded by: “It is said to him: ‘You will find in the Sunna of the Messenger of Allah—peace be upon him—that he said, ‘The Qur’an is created.’ He then finds no reply, and it is said to him…”.
(6) In the Cairo edition of Al-Radd ‘ala al-Jahmiyya: “fasayaqūl” (‘so he will say’).
(7) Qur’an 43:3.
(8) In both editions of Al-Radd ‘ala al-Jahmiyya: “and he asserted that ja‘ala (to make) signifies khalaqa (to create), so that every ma‘jūl (made thing) is taken to mean makhlūq (created)…”.