For that is proof that he was asking them about Allah’s speaking in the future [because they denied that He would speak in the future] (1).

Then, when they said, “It will be something that conveys on behalf of Allah” (2), he replied (3): We said, You have committed a most serious slander against Allah (4) when you claimed that Allah does not speak; you have likened Him to the idols that are worshipped instead of Allah, for idols neither speak, nor move (5), nor shift from one place to another [to another place] (6).

Thus he quoted them, censuring their denial that Allah, Exalted be He, speaks, moves, or relocates from place to place.

Then he added (7): When the evidence prevailed against him he said, “Allah may indeed speak, but His speech is created” (8).

We replied (9): The speech of the children of Adam is likewise created; you have therefore likened Allah, Blessed and Exalted, to His creation when you claimed that His speech is created. According to your doctrine, Allah (10) was, at some point in time, not speaking until He created speech, and likewise—