As for what they call the active intellect, they hold that all observable things emanate from it; thus, there is no distinction here between the unseen and the visible.

Moreover, it is a self-evident tenet of the Muslim faith that Gabriel did not bring into being the earth and mountains, the air and clouds, or animals, minerals and plants. Yet they claim that this active intellect brought into being everything beneath the lunar sphere.

This has been discussed at length, and it has been demonstrated in many ways that the angels whom Allah describes in His Book cannot be the intellects and souls of which they speak.

He said:

“In this respect, the wording of the Quran differs from words uttered outside the Quran. I mean that these other words are our own acts, performed by Allah’s permission, whereas the words of the Quran are Allah’s creation. Whoever does not understand this in this way has understood neither this conception nor how the Quran can be called Allah’s speech.”

The reply is:

“No! According to your view, the letters and sounds that Allah Most High produces within human souls, which people imagine in dreams and while awake, have the same status as the Quran in being Allah’s creation. It is well known that the words composed by accomplished people are better than most of the words that most people imagine in dreams and while awake. What merit, then, does the Quran possess on this account?!”

He said:

“Whoever considers the wording without the meaning says: ‘The Quran