in their claim that describing the Quran as sent down does not preclude its being created, since created things, such as water and iron, are also described as being sent down. Some of them even claimed that sending down can mean creating. Yet Allah has stated that the Quran is sent down, and sending down is from above, wherever that may be. This is self-evident in the language and is part of ordinary, widespread usage. This is further clarified by Allah’s words:

“We certainly sent Our messengers with clear proofs and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance, so that people may uphold justice.” [al-Hadīd 25]

Then He said:

“And We sent down iron, in which there is great strength and benefits for people.” [al-Hadīd 25]

He thus distinguished between sending down the Scripture and the balance—which He said He sent down with the messengers—and sending down iron. He described the latter’s sending down in unqualified terms: He did not say that it was sent down along with the Scripture and the balance, nor did He describe its sending down as He described theirs. Allah Most High also said:

“And He brought down from their strongholds those of the People of the Scripture who supported them.” [al-Ahzāb 26]

If this may be called a descent, then what He brought down from the mountains is all the more appropriately described as sent down, for mountains are higher than the strongholds, which are