until they engage in some other conversation. (1)

We therefore leave off disputing about the Quran and wrangling over it (2); we neither argue nor quarrel. Instead, we believe in it in its entirety and refer its full knowledge back to the One who knows it—blessed and exalted is He—for He knows it best. From Him it originated, and to Him it shall return.

Abu ʿAbd Allah said:
ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Ishaq once said to me, “Allah existed and there was no Quran.” I replied to him, “Allah existed and there was no knowledge. Knowledge is from Allah and belongs to Him; it is of Him, and knowledge is uncreated. Whoever claims that it is created has disbelieved in Allah and alleged that Allah Himself is created. This is clear, manifest disbelief. (3)”

He (4) said: “I heard ʿAbd Allah ibn Ahmad relate that Abu Bakr al-Aʿyan said: Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked about the explanation of the statement, ‘The Quran is the speech of Allah; from Him it issued and to Him it returns.’ Ahmad replied, ‘From Him it issued: He is the One who spoke it (5); and to Him it returns.’”

Al-Khallal (6) said: “Harb ibn Ismaʿil al-Karmani informed me, saying: Abu Yaʿqub Ishaq ibn Ibrahim—meaning Ibn Rahuyah—narrated to us (7) from Sufyan ibn ʿUyaynah, from ʿAmr ibn Dinar, who said: ‘For seventy years I have lived among the people; I met the Companions of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and those after them. They all used to say: Allah is the Creator and everything besides Him is created—except the Quran, for it is the speech of Allah: from Him it issued and to Him it returns.’”

Al-Khallal (8) said: “ʿAbd Allah ibn Ahmad narrated to me, [saying], ‘Muhammad ibn…’”