speak directly to Moses. Far exalted is Allah above what al-Ja‘d says!” He then descended from the pulpit and slaughtered him.

These were the people who called certain caliphs to adopt their doctrine, until people were subjected to the notorious inquisition concerning the Quran during the reigns of al-Ma’mūn, al-Mu‘tasim, and al-Wāthiq. Through it, Allah raised the standing of those imams of the Sunnah who remained steadfast, such as Imam Ahmad—may Allah have mercy on him—and those who agreed with him. Allah relieved the people of this ordeal during the reign of al-Mutawakkil, and “the position of the early generations” became prevalent in the Muslim community: the Quran is Allah’s speech, uncreated; it originated from Him, and to Him it will return. That is, He is the One who spoke it; it did not originate from any created being—as the Jahmiyya claimed. Rather, it was sent down from Him, as He, Exalted is He, said:

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

And He said:

“Those to whom We have given the Scripture know that it has been sent down from your Lord in truth.”

And He said:

“Hā Mīm.”

“A revelation from the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.”

And His words:

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

Then, as the inquisition spread, confusion and disagreement over this matter increased, until even the people of the Sunnah and the united community—who agreed that Allah’s speech was sent down and was uncreated—began expressing positions that differed from one another. One of them might not realize that his position contradicted the evidence. The followers of the four imams—Abū Hanīfa, Mālik, al-Shāfi‘ī, and Ahmad—also came to disagree among their various groups over the precise meaning of this, despite their well-known, publicly professed position that the Quran is Allah’s speech, uncreated, as we shall point out.