As for those ignorant people who go still further and say, “The paper, leather, peg, and a piece of the wall are Allah’s speech,” they are like those who say, “Allah did not speak the Quran, nor is it His speech.” This excess in affirmation is the counterpart of outright denial, and both depart from the Sunnah and the united community.

Likewise, making the dots and vowel marks a separate subject of debate, whether to deny or affirm, is an innovation. This innovation arose a hundred years ago, or a little more. Whoever says, “The ink used to dot the letters and add vowel marks is eternal,” is misguided and ignorant. Whoever says, “The vocalization of the Quran’s letters is not part of the Quran,” is a misguided innovator.

Rather, what must be said is: “This Arabic Quran is Allah’s speech.” This includes its letters with their vocalization, just as it includes its meanings. It should also be said: “Everything between the two covers is Allah’s speech.” If the written copy of the Quran has dots and vowel marks, everything between its two covers is described, without qualification, as Allah’s speech. If it has neither dots nor vowel marks, like the early copies written by the Companions, what lies between its two covers is likewise Allah’s speech.

It is therefore impermissible to sow discord among Muslims over a newly introduced matter and a merely verbal dispute with no substantive basis. Nor is it permissible to introduce into the religion anything that does not belong to it.