the messenger conveys it from the One who sent him, not that he originated any part of it himself. This indicates that He attributed it to the messenger because he conveyed and delivered it, not because he originated or first uttered any part of it.

Furthermore, Allah has declared whoever regards it as the word of a human being a disbeliever, saying:

“Indeed, he thought and calculated. May he be destroyed—how he calculated! Again, may he be destroyed—how he calculated! Then he looked, then frowned and scowled, then turned away in arrogance and said, ‘This is nothing but magic handed down. This is nothing but the word of a human being.’”

Muhammad is a human being, so whoever says that it is Muhammad’s word has disbelieved. There is no difference between saying that it is the word of a human being, a jinn, or an angel. Whoever regards it as the word of any of these has disbelieved.

Yet Allah Most High has said:

“Indeed, it is the word of a noble messenger. It is not the word of a poet.”

Thus, He attributed it to the human messenger while declaring whoever says that it is the word of a human being a disbeliever. It is therefore clear that what is meant is that the messenger conveyed it from the One who sent him, not that it is speech originating from himself. It is the speech of Allah, who sent him, as Allah Most High says:

“If any of the polytheists seeks your protection, grant him protection so that he may hear the speech of Allah.”

What the messenger conveyed is therefore Allah’s speech, not the messenger’s speech.

For this reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would present himself to people at the seasonal gatherings and say:

“Is there a man who will take me to his people so that I may convey the speech of my Lord? Quraysh have prevented me from conveying the speech of my Lord.”

Reported by Abū Dāwūd and others. Speech belongs to the one who