Something may also be said to be from Allah, even though it is created, when it is uniquely attributable to Him, as with the signs of the prophets. Thus He said to Moses:

“These, then, are two proofs from your Lord.”

The transformation of the staff into a snake and the bringing forth of the hand white, without disease, are created by Allah. Yet they are from Him because through them He demonstrated and made clear the truthfulness of His prophet Moses. They constitute His confirmation and His testimony to Moses’ messengership and truthfulness. Thus they are from Allah in the same way that clear evidence and testimony are from Allah. These signs are not things that devils and soothsayers can perform. Similarly, one says, “This is a sign from so-and-so,” or “This is evidence from so-and-so,” even though it is not speech uttered by that person.

Moses himself called this clear evidence from Allah, saying:

“I have come to you with clear evidence from your Lord.”

His words, “with clear evidence from your Lord,” are like His words:

“These, then, are two proofs from your Lord.”

Here, this clear evidence is a created proof, sign, and indication that serves the same purpose as Allah’s testimony and His declaration through His speech. It is like the token a man sends with his agent to his household. Saʿīd ibn Jubayr said concerning such a sign: “It is like a signet ring that you send.” This is equivalent to saying, “Believe what he says,” or “Give him what he asks for.”

Thus the Quran and guidance are from Him, belonging to His speech, knowledge, and judgment, which subsist in Him and are uncreated. These signs point to that, just as His speech is written in