their doctrines except the ‘question of utterance.’” He explained that this was due to the obscurity surrounding the issue; in many instances, their disagreement was merely verbal. People did not dispute that human speech which Allah Most High has not revealed is brought into being and created. There was, however, disagreement concerning the “letters of the alphabet” and the “names of created things.” It was this disagreement that led these ignorant people into the absurdities they embraced, as we shall explain, Allah Most High willing. This response does not permit a detailed exposition of the “question of utterance,” but we shall address it briefly, saying:
Allah Most High sent His messengers, revealed His Books to them, and commanded them to convey to people the revelation and speech He had sent down to them. Some people believed in Allah and His messengers, accepted as true what they brought from Allah, and obeyed their commands. These are the believers in every age and era, and they are the people of Paradise and felicity. As Allah Most High says:
“Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden as wide as heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers.”
And Allah Most High says:
“Indeed, those who believed, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians—whoever believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteous deeds—will have their reward with their Lord. No fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve.”
Others disbelieved in the messengers and declared them liars, such as the nations whose accounts Allah has related to us: the people of Noah, ʿĀd, Thamūd, the people of Lot, the dwellers of the Thicket, and Pharaoh