either verse contradicts the other in any way. Nor does either provide evidence for a false position, even though some people may cite either verse in support of one. For His words:

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

indicate that he hears Allah’s speech from the reciter who conveys it, and that what Muslims recite is Allah’s speech. Similarly, the hadith of Jābir in the Sunan collections states:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to present himself to the people at the gathering, saying: ‘Is there no man who will take me to his people so that I may convey the speech of my Lord? For Quraysh have prevented me from conveying the speech of my Lord.’”

The report concerning Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that when he went out to the polytheists and recited to them:

“Alif Lām Mīm. The Romans have been defeated in the nearest land. But after their defeat they will be victorious,”

they asked him, “Is this your speech or your companion’s?”

He replied, “It is neither my speech nor my companion’s; rather, it is Allah’s speech.”

Allah Most High has also said:

“Leave Me with the one I created alone, and granted abundant wealth, and sons at his side, and made life easy for him. Yet he desires that I give him more. No! He has stubbornly opposed Our signs. I will burden him with an arduous ascent. Indeed, he thought and calculated. May he be destroyed—how he calculated! Again, may he be destroyed—how he calculated! Then he looked; then he frowned and scowled; then he turned away in arrogance and said, ‘This is nothing but magic handed down. This is nothing but the word of a human being.’”

Thus, whoever says that this Quran is the word of a human being makes a statement resembling that of the man created alone, whom Allah cast into Saqar. It is common knowledge among rational people that someone who conveys another’s speech—like one who conveys the words of