to these matters in several other places.

The second point is that “the Word” here means the Quran, as in His saying:

“We have conveyed the Word to them so that they may take heed.” [Surah al-Qasas 51]

The Word they are commanded to reflect upon is the same Word they are commanded to listen to. Reflection involves examination, reasoning, drawing lessons, and listening. Whoever commands us to listen to every utterance, or to discourse that we have not been instructed by the revealed Law to listen to, is like someone who commands us to reflect upon and examine every utterance, or to reflect upon and examine discourse that we have not been instructed by the revealed Law to consider. Those who deviate in their examination and reasoning through such statements belong to the practitioners of innovated speculative theology.

The lām of the Arabic definite article marks definiteness: it refers to what is known to both the speaker and the addressee, encompassing the whole of what is thus known. The definite article in “the Word” therefore conveys generality and comprehensiveness, but only with respect to what it makes definite: the particular discourse known to both the speaker and the addressee. Clearly, this is the Word that Allah has praised and commanded us to listen to, reflect upon, and follow. For He says at the beginning of this surah:

“The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise. Indeed, We have sent down the Book to you in truth, so worship Allah, devoting your religion sincerely to Him. Unquestionably, to Allah belongs devotion