—who reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“There is not one of you except that Allah will speak to him, with no interpreter (1) between Him and him.” (2)
He then said: As for their claim that speech can exist only by way of an internal cavity, a mouth, lips, and a tongue—did not Allah, Mighty and Majestic, say to the heavens and the earth:
“Come willingly or unwillingly!” They said, “We come willingly.” (3)
Do you imagine (4) that their reply came forth from a chest cavity, lips, and a tongue (5)?
And Allah said:
“And We subjected the mountains along with David, and they glorified Us.” (6)
Do you think those mountains glorified Him with a chest cavity, a mouth (7), a tongue, and lips?
Likewise, when the bodily limbs bear witness against the disbeliever and he says (8):
“Why did you testify against us?” they will answer, “Allah, Who has made all things speak, is the One Who has made us speak.” (9)
Do you imagine
= al-Nubala (The Nobles) by al-Dhahabī, vol. 3, pp. 162–165; al-Isābah fī Tamyīz al-Ṣaḥābah (Distinguishing the Companions) by Ibn Ḥajar, vol. 2, p. 468.
(1) In Al-Radd ‘alā al-Jahmīyyah: “rabbu-hu mā baynahu wa baynahu” (“His Lord is between him and himself”).
(2) Narrated by Muslim in this wording, with the rest: “He looks to his right and sees nothing but what he has sent ahead; he looks to his left (ashʾam, i.e. his left side) and sees nothing but what he has sent ahead; he looks before him and sees nothing but the Fire confronting him. So fear Allāh, even with half a date.” See Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2:703–704, Book of Zakāh, chapter “Encouraging charity even with half a date or a good word, and that it is a shield against the Fire,” ḥadīth 67. It is also narrated by al-Bukhārī 8:202, Book of Tawḥīd, chapter “The speech of the Lord, Mighty and Majestic, on the Day of Resurrection to the Prophets and others,” with a slight variation in wording.
(3) Surah Fussilat (41:11).
(4) In the S and T editions: “atarahu” (“Do you see him?”); in Al-Radd ‘alā al-Jahmīyyah: “ataraha” (“Do you see it?”).
(5) In Al-Radd ‘alā al-Jahmīyyah: “bi jawf wa fam wa shafatayni wa lisān wa adawāt…” (“by the inner cavity, mouth, two lips, tongue, and speech organs…”).
(6) Surah al-Anbiyā’ (21:79).
(7) In the S and T editions: “… bi fam wa jawf …”; in Al-Radd ‘alā al-Jahmīyyah: “ataraha sabahat…” (“Do you see it ‘sabahat’…?”).
(8) In the S, T and Al-Radd ‘alā al-Jahmīyyah: “fa-qālū” (“and they said”).
(9) Surah Fussilat (41:21).