is what is called Allah’s speech, or its counterpart is found in what is called Allah’s speech; therefore, Allah’s speech is created.”

The advocate of indwelling and union, who identifies the Creator’s attribute with the creature’s attribute, said: “What we hear from the reciters is Allah’s speech, yet we hear only the servants’ voices. Thus, the servants’ voices reciting the Quran are Allah’s speech. Allah’s speech is uncreated; therefore, the servants’ voices reciting the Quran are uncreated, and the letters heard from them are uncreated.” They then said: “The letters occurring in their speech are these very letters, or their counterparts; therefore, they are uncreated.” Some of their extremists went further, declaring the sounds of their ordinary speech uncreated. Similarly, some of them claimed that deeds are part of faith, that faith is uncreated, and that deeds are therefore uncreated.

Some extended this to both good and evil deeds, saying: “They are divine decree and prescribed law.” [And Umar said: “By deeds, we do not mean movements, but rather the reward that comes on the Day of Resurrection, as mentioned in the authentic hadith: ‘Al-Baqarah and Āl Imrān will come as though they were two clouds, or two canopies of shade, or two flocks of birds with wings outspread.’” He is to be told: “This reward, too, is created.” Ahmad and other imams explicitly stated that it is uncreated.] (*)

This was also their answer to anyone who cited such a hadith as evidence that the Quran is created. They told him: “What comes on the Day of Resurrection is the reward for the Quran, not the Quran itself, and the reward for the Quran is created.” These are among the many such statements introduced by various groups. Innovations arise little by little. This subject has been discussed at length elsewhere.