Know that there is something remarkable here: these people stand at the opposite extreme from those who regard the Quran they recite as human speech rather than Allah’s speech. The latter take Allah’s speech, which they recite, convey, and transmit, and make it their own speech. The former take their own speech—which contains disbelief, wickedness, disobedience, falsehood, and error—and make it Allah’s uncreated speech. The latter consider only the person from whom the speech is heard, while the former consider only the one whom they believe first uttered its individual words.

As for the “community of the middle way”—those who remain true to the natural disposition—and all mankind, they say concerning what someone conveys and transmits from another, or reads and recites of another’s speech: “This is that person’s speech; you have merely conveyed it using your own faculties.” Thus, when Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, went out to Quraysh 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, “Is this your speech or your companion’s speech?”

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

This accords with the words of Allah Most High:

“Then grant him protection so that he may hear Allah’s speech.”

In Sunan Abī Dāwūd, it is reported from Jābir concerning the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“He 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.’”

He thus made clear