What do the esteemed imams of the religion say concerning two men, one of whom said, “The Quran that is heard is Allah’s speech,” while the other said, “It is Gabriel’s speech, as Allah Most High says: ‘Indeed, it is the word of a noble messenger’”? Has the latter spoken correctly or erred? How should the evidence he cited be answered? Have any of the scholars and imams expressed this view? Please give us a fatwa, and may you be rewarded.

Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah sanctify his soul—answered:

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Rather, the Quran is the speech of Allah Most High, not the speech of Gabriel or of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. This is agreed upon by the Companions, those who followed them in righteousness, and the imams of the Muslims and their followers whose opinions form the basis of fatwas in Islam, such as Abū Hanīfah, Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, Ahmad, and others.

Gabriel heard it from Allah, and Muhammad heard it from Gabriel, as Allah Most High says:

“Say: The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth.”

The Holy Spirit is Gabriel. Allah Most High also says:

“Those to whom We have given the Scripture know that it has been sent down from your Lord in truth.”

And He Most High says:

“The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise.”

And He Most High says:

“Hā Mīm. The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Knowing.”

Thus, it is sent down from Allah, as He says: