Allah and part of it is not Allah’s speech is a fabricator and an innovator, subject to the same judgment as others of his kind.

Whoever says that the Verse of the Throne, the verse concerning debt, “Say: He is Allah, the One,” and “May the hands of Abū Lahab perish, and may he perish!” all have one and the same meaning is a fabricator and an innovator, subject to the same judgment as others of his kind.

As for “declaring someone a disbeliever,” the correct position is that anyone from the community of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—who exercises independent judgment, intending to reach the truth, but errs is not to be declared a disbeliever. Rather, his error is forgiven. Whoever clearly understands what the Messenger brought, yet opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows a path other than that of the believers, is a disbeliever.

Whoever follows his own desires, falls short in seeking the truth, and speaks without knowledge is disobedient and sinful. He may be a flagrant sinner, and he may have good deeds that outweigh his misdeeds. Thus, the judgment of disbelief varies according to the individual’s circumstances. Not everyone who errs, introduces an innovation, is ignorant, or goes astray is a disbeliever—or even a flagrant sinner, or even disobedient. This is especially so in matters such as “the question of the Quran,” concerning which many leading figures of the various groups, known among people for their knowledge and religious commitment, have erred. Most of them seek an aspect of the truth and follow it, while another aspect escapes them and they fail to grasp it. Thus they know part of the truth while remaining ignorant of another part—indeed, even denying it.

From this their disagreement arose. Those who said that it is created held that