the created things. Scholars have long known that above the seven heavens lie the Kursī, the Throne, the Preserved Tablet, the veils, and many other entities that He has not named. None of these were included among the created objects mentioned; the divine report concerns only the heavens, the earth, and whatever is between them.
Concerning their allegation that the Qur’an must be either in the heavens, on the earth, or between the two, we replied: Allah, blessed and exalted, says, “Allah has not created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them except in truth” (al-Rum 30:8).
The Truth by which He created the heavens and the earth existed before both the heavens and the earth, and that Truth is His Word—for Allah speaks the truth—and He has said:
“So the truth—and only the truth—I speak” (Sad 38:84),
“On the Day He will say, ‘Be!’—and it will be; His Word is the truth” (al-Anʿam 6:73).
Therefore, the Truth by which He created the heavens and the earth preceded them, and that Truth is His Word, and His Word is not created.1
(1) Ibn Batta says in al-Ibana, 2/190–191:
The Jahmi then put forward another contention, arguing: “Allah—Majestic and Exalted—says, ‘We did not create the heavens, the earth, and what lies between them in play’ (Surah al-Dukhan, 38).” From this he claimed that the Quran must be located either in the heavens, on the earth, or in the space between the two.
He is answered thus: Allah—Exalted—is also saying, “We did not create the heavens, the earth, and what lies between them except in truth” (Surah al-Hijr, 85). The “truth” (al-haqq) by which He created the heavens, the earth, and all that is between them is His very speech, for He is the Truth and His word is truth: “So the truth—and the truth I speak” (Surah Sad, 84).
He likewise says, “On the Day He will say, ‘Be!’ and it is—His word is the truth, and His is the dominion” (Surah al-Anam, 73). Hence, creation as a whole came about through the truth, and this truth is His speech and His word.
He further declares, “He created the heavens and the earth in truth” (Surah al-Naml, 3), and, “Allah created that only in truth” (Surah Yunus, 5), meaning by His word and His speech. Therefore, His word and His speech existed before the heavens, the earth, and whatever lies between them.
So understand this—may Allah have mercy on you—and do not let the corrupt Jahmi, with his sophistry, deception, and doubts, shake you from your religion. The Jahmi spares no effort in declaring people unbelievers and leading them astray.
May Allah, by His mercy, protect us and you from his mischief.