Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Jawhari informed us: Abu al-Qasim al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Idris related to us: al-Hasan ibn Ayyub related to us, saying: “I asked Ahmad ibn Hanbal, ‘What do you say concerning the Quran?’ He replied, ‘It is the speech of Allah, uncreated.’”

He said: “I asked, ‘What do you say of one who claims that it is created?’ ⦗291⦘ He replied, ‘He is a disbeliever.’ I asked, ‘On what basis do you declare him a disbeliever?’ He replied, ‘On the basis of verses from the Book of Allah: “And if you were to follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you” [al-Baqarah 2:120], and, “after the knowledge that has come to you” [al-Baqarah 2:145]. The Quran is Allah’s knowledge; so whoever claims that Allah’s knowledge is created has disbelieved.’”