“I asked the dwelling to tell me
What had become of my loved ones.
It said to me, ‘The people camped
For some days, then departed.’”

This may also be called testimony. Some have claimed that the glorification of Allah by created things mentioned in the Quran belongs to this category: their pointing to the Creator, Most High. The correct view, however, is that there is another glorification beyond their pointing to Him, as explained elsewhere. Yet all these usages require qualification and contextual indication.

Thus, speech and utterance can rightly be denied of these things, as Allah Most High says:

“Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to any way?”

And He says:

“Do they not see that it returns no word to them and has no power to harm or benefit them?”

And Abraham, Allah’s intimate friend, peace be upon him, said:

“So ask them, if they can speak.”

And Allah Most High says:

“This is a Day when they will not speak, nor will they be permitted to offer excuses.”

And He says:

“They will not speak, except those whom the Most Merciful permits and who say what is right.”

And He says:

“They do not precede Him in speech, and they act by His command.”

It is known self-evidently and through mass transmission that utterance and speech may be denied of a living being who is silent or unable to speak—how much more so of inanimate things! It is also known that Allah Most High possesses the attributes of perfection to the highest degree, and that the messengers affirmed that He speaks with speech that is complete and perfect to the highest degree. Whoever regards His speech as merely meaning, merely letters, or merely letters and sounds has not esteemed Allah as He deserves. And whoever regards His speech as only that which subsists