—from Him it originated, and to Him it will return. The early generations said, “From Him it originated,” because the Jahmiyyah—among the Muʿtazilah and others—used to say that He created speech in a locus. The early generations therefore said, “From Him it originated,” meaning that He Himself spoke it: it originated from Him, not from any created being. As Allah Most High says:

“The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise.”

And He Most High says:

“But the word from Me will come into effect.”

And He Most High says:

“Those who have been given knowledge see that what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the truth.”

And He Most High says:

“Say, ‘The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth.’”

Their statement, “To Him it will return,” means that it will be taken away from people’s hearts and from copies of the Quran, so that not a single verse or letter of it will remain in their hearts, as related in several reports.