He then cited instances where jaʿala occurs with a meaning other than creating, such as His words:

“Allah has not appointed any bahirah or saʾibah” (5:103)—that is, it does not mean that Allah created no bahirah or saʾibah.

Allah said to Abraham: “I am appointing you as a leader for mankind” (2:124). This does not mean, “I am creating a leader for mankind,” for Abraham’s creation had already taken place.¹

Abraham said, “My Lord, make this land secure” (14:35), and he also said, “My Lord, make me steadfast in prayer” (14:40)—which does not mean, “Create me steadfast in prayer.”²

He says, “Allah intends not to grant them any share in the Hereafter” (3:176).

He said to the mother of Moses, “We shall return him to you and make him one of the messengers” (28:7). This does not mean, “We shall create him as one of the messengers,” for Allah promised Moses’ mother that He would return him to her and only thereafter appoint him a messenger.³

He says, “so that He may heap the wicked one upon another, gather them all together, and cast them into Hell” (8:37).

And He says, “We wished to show favor to those who were oppressed in the land, to make them leaders and make them heirs” (28:5).