and the jurists of the major cities, is that the Quran is the speech of Allah, uncreated. Whoever says that it is created is a disbeliever. Gabriel, peace be upon him, conveyed the Quran after hearing it from Allah; the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, heard it from Gabriel; and the Companions heard it from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. It is this same Quran that we recite with our tongues, that is contained between the two covers, and that is held in our hearts—heard, written, memorized, and recited. All of it, down to every letter, such as bā (b) and tā (t), is Allah’s uncreated speech. Whoever says that it is created is a disbeliever; upon him are the curses of Allah, the angels, and all mankind.”

These matters are discussed at length elsewhere, together with the related questions concerning the other attributes, such as knowledge, power, will, hearing, and sight. These include whether an attribute is multiple or one; whether it is eternal or comes into being; whether its type is eternal but not its individual instances; whether a universal, general attribute encompassing individual instances is affirmed, while each particular instance arises anew; and the other views expressed on this subject.

These are difficult questions that bewilder the intellect. Groups of highly intelligent people and thinkers have therefore fallen into confusion over them. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.