ibn Wahb, Mālik’s companion, and Asbagh ibn al-Faraj, the jurist—concerning Allah Most High’s words:

“What of one who stands upon clear evidence from his Lord and is followed by a witness from Him?”

He explained: “The Messenger of Allah ‘stood upon clear evidence from his Lord,’ and the Quran follows him as a witness as well, because it is from Allah.”

Among the interpretations al-Zajjāj mentioned was: “The Messenger of Allah recites the Quran, and it is a witness from Allah.”

Abū al-‘Āliyah said: “‘What of one who stands upon clear evidence from his Lord?’ refers to Muhammad, and ‘is followed by a witness from Him’ refers to the Quran.” Ibn Abī Hātim said: “A similar interpretation was reported from Ibn ‘Abbās, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, Mujāhid, Abū Sālih, Ibrāhīm, ‘Ikrimah, al-Dahhāk, Qatādah, al-Suddī, Khusayf, and Ibn ‘Uyaynah.”

What they said is correct. However, this does not imply that his followers do not stand upon clear evidence from their Lord. Rather, they too stand upon clear evidence from their Lord.

Concerning “What of one who stands upon clear evidence from his Lord?” al-Hasan al-Basrī said: “The believer stands upon clear evidence from his Lord.” Ibn Abī Hātim related this.

It was also reported from al-Husayn ibn ‘Alī that “is followed by a witness from Him” means Muhammad, a witness from Allah. This interpretation implies that the one who stands upon clear evidence is the person for whom he bears witness.

The view that the witness is Muhammad is like the view that he is Gabriel, for both conveyed the Quran, and Allah chooses messengers from among the angels and from among mankind.