Refuting the Doubt Regarding the Pre-existence of the Speech of Allah
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The fourth question of Fatwa No. ( 3239 ):
Q4: We read in the Noble Qur'an[Ghafir 40:27] the verse, [Ghafir 40:36] the verse, and there are many verses like these two in the Qur'an, so how do we call this the Qur'an, and the eternal speech of Allah?
A4: The term "speech" is used for both the wording and the meaning, and for each of them individually based on context. The one who conveys it from the one who spoke it, without distorting its meaning or altering its letters and arrangement, is merely a reporter and a transmitter. The speech belongs to the one who originated it. However, if one alters its letters and arrangement while preserving its meaning, the wording, its letters, and its arrangement are attributed to him, while the meaning is attributed to the one who originally spoke it. This includes what Allah informed us about regarding past nations, such as His saying, the Exalted:[Ghafir 40:27]
, and His saying:[Ghafir 40:36] , so these two are called the Qur'an and are attributed to Allah as His speech in terms of their letters and arrangement; because they are from Allah, not from the speech of Moses and Pharaoh; because the arrangement and letters are not from them. They are attributed to Moses and Pharaoh in terms of the meaning, because it was uttered by them. Allah knew both of these in eternity and commanded them to be written in the Preserved Tablet. Then the saying occurred from Moses and Pharaoh in their languages exactly as it was in the Preserved Tablet. Then Allah spoke with it in other letters and another arrangement in the time of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), so it was attributed to each of them according to the aspect. As for describing the speech of Allah as "pre-existing," this was not known from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) nor from the Imams of the Salaf (may Allah have mercy on them). Rather, the people of the Sunnah used to say during the Inquisition: "The speech of Allah is not created," and their opponents used to say: "The speech of Allah is created." So describing the speech of Allah as "pre-existing" is a later convention. If we were to follow it, we would say: The speech of Allah is pre-existing in type but created in instances; because Allah the Exalted has always been speaking, and continues to speak with what He wills. In fact, He will speak on the Day of Resurrection with the believers, the disbelievers, and others with what He wills, as established in the two Sahihs from 'Adi ibn Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he
said:Sahih al-Bukhari 7443 ... the hadith, along with other hadiths on the subject. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q4: We read in the Noble Qur'an
But Moses said, "Indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord
وَقَالَ مُوسَى إِنِّي عُذْتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُمْAnd Pharaoh said, "O Haman, construct for me a tower
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا هَامَانُ ابْنِ لِي صَرْحًاA4: The term "speech" is used for both the wording and the meaning, and for each of them individually based on context. The one who conveys it from the one who spoke it, without distorting its meaning or altering its letters and arrangement, is merely a reporter and a transmitter. The speech belongs to the one who originated it. However, if one alters its letters and arrangement while preserving its meaning, the wording, its letters, and its arrangement are attributed to him, while the meaning is attributed to the one who originally spoke it. This includes what Allah informed us about regarding past nations, such as His saying, the Exalted:
But Moses said, "Indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Account."
وَقَالَ مُوسَى إِنِّي عُذْتُ بِرَبِّي وَرَبِّكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ مُتَكَبِّرٍ لاَ يُؤْمِنُ بِيَوْمِ الْحِسَابِ, and His saying:
And Pharaoh said, "O Haman, construct for me a tower that I might reach the ways -
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَا هَامَانُ ابْنِ لِي صَرْحًا لَعَلِّي أَبْلُغُ الأَسْبَابَsaid:
There will be none among you but his Lord will speak to him, and there will be no interpreter between them
ما منكم من أحد إلاَّ سيكلمه ربه ليس بينه وبينه ترجمان
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.