by other people.” And His words, “He sent it down,” serve as evidence that it is true and that the reports it conveys from Allah are true. This is why He mentioned this after the challenge had been established and the inability of created beings to produce anything like it had become evident.

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His testimony also includes the knowledge He places in people’s hearts and what their tongues express of that knowledge, as related in the Sahīh:

“A funeral procession passed by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the people spoke well of the deceased. He said, ‘It is assured! It is assured!’ Another funeral procession passed by, and they spoke ill of the deceased. He said, ‘It is assured! It is assured!’ They asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, what do you mean by saying, “It is assured! It is assured!”?’ He replied, ‘You spoke well of the first deceased person, so I said that Paradise was assured for them. You spoke ill of the second deceased person, so I said that the Fire was assured for them. You are Allah’s witnesses on earth.’”

By saying “Allah’s witnesses,” he ascribed them to Allah Most High. Testimony is sometimes ascribed to the one on whose behalf it is given, and sometimes to the one before whom it is given and who accepts it. Thus people speak of “the judge’s witnesses,” “the ruler’s witnesses,” and similar expressions referring to those whose testimony is accepted. This may also include the person concerning whom a witness testifies, on the basis of what the witness has undertaken to bear