The meaning of His saying: "Allah has sent down the best statement," and the clarification that the Qur'an is the speech of Allah, not created, and the refutation of those who contradict this.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : What is meant by "the best statement"? What is meant by "the best statement" is this noble book, the Qur'an, because Allah said to His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): [Yusuf 12:3]. So the best statement is this Qur'an. Allah the Exalted sent it down to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) through the trustworthy spirit, Jibril (peace be upon him). Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nahl 16:102]. And He the Exalted said: [Ash-Shu'ara 26:193-195].
So this Qur'an is the best statement, without doubt, in wording and meaning, in stories and news, and in rulings.
In this noble verse, Allah described the Qur'an as being sent down[Az-Zumar 39:23], so the scholars used this as evidence that the Qur'an is the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and there is no doubt in this, because Allah says: [At-Tawbah 9:6].
Is it the speech of Allah in both wording and meaning, or is it the speech of Allah in meaning only, with the words being created to express that meaning which subsists in the Self of Allah (Mighty and Majestic)? We say: the first or the second?
The student: The first.
The Shaykh : The first. It is the speech of Allah in both wording and meaning. The speech of Allah the Exalted was heard by Jibril, and he brought it down to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It is not the meaning that subsists in the Self of Allah, expressed by the created sounds that Jibril heard. Because if that were what was meant, it would not be the speech of Allah, but rather created speech. The speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is one of His attributes and is not created.
And this is what we say is the position of the Salaf, who are the people of the Sunnah and the community.
And in this is also evidence that the Qur'an is not created, because Allah said:[Az-Zumar 39:23], and we said that the statement is the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), so it is not created.
So if someone says: How can it be not created, when Allah the Exalted says:, and the sending down occurs in created things, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Hadid 57:25], and He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:22], and He said: [Ash-Shuraa 42:28], and all these things are created. So iron is created, the rain is created, the water that comes down from the rain is created, and likewise the livestock [Az-Zumar 39:6] are created. So how do you say that the Qur'an is not created when it is sent down?
So the answer is: Because the Qur'an is a description, speech, and speech is a description of the speaker. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic), among His attributes, is the Creator, and everything other than Him is created. And because the created thing is distinct from the Creator, because it is separated, and the separated thing is distinct from the Maker and detached from Him.
And for this reason, if a blacksmith makes ... for example, is it separate from him or one of his attributes? It is separate from him. And likewise, if a builder builds a palace, the palace is separate from him. So the created thing is a thing separate from the Creator, distinct from Him, unlike speech, for speech is a description of the speaker. And the Creator (Mighty and Majestic) is perfect in His attributes, and none of His attributes is created.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : ... .
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I say the engineer ... .
We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur'an although you were, before it, among the unaware.
نحن نقص عليك أحسن القصص بما أوحينا إليك هذا القرآن وإن كنت من قبله لمن الغافلينSay, [O Muhammad], "The Pure Spirit has brought it down from your Lord
قل نزله روح القدس من ربك(193) The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down (194) Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners - (195) In a clear Arabic language.
نزل به الروح الأمين على قلبك لتكون من المنذرين بلسان عربي مبينSo this Qur'an is the best statement, without doubt, in wording and meaning, in stories and news, and in rulings.
In this noble verse, Allah described the Qur'an as being sent down
has sent down the best statement
نزل أحسن الحديثAnd if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah. Then deliver him to his place of safety
وإن أحد من المشركين استجارك فأجره حتى يسمع كلام الله ثم أبلغه مأمنهIs it the speech of Allah in both wording and meaning, or is it the speech of Allah in meaning only, with the words being created to express that meaning which subsists in the Self of Allah (Mighty and Majestic)? We say: the first or the second?
The student: The first.
The Shaykh : The first. It is the speech of Allah in both wording and meaning. The speech of Allah the Exalted was heard by Jibril, and he brought it down to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It is not the meaning that subsists in the Self of Allah, expressed by the created sounds that Jibril heard. Because if that were what was meant, it would not be the speech of Allah, but rather created speech. The speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is one of His attributes and is not created.
And this is what we say is the position of the Salaf, who are the people of the Sunnah and the community.
And in this is also evidence that the Qur'an is not created, because Allah said:
has sent down the best statement
نزل أحسن الحديثSo if someone says: How can it be not created, when Allah the Exalted says:
He has sent down
نزلAnd We sent down iron, wherein is great military might
وأنزلنا الحديد فيه بأس شديدsent down from the sky, rain
أنزل من السماء ماءAnd it is He who sends down the rain after they had despaired
هو الذي ينزل الغيث من بعد ما قنطواand He produced for you from the grazing livestock eight mates
أنزل لكم من الأنعام ثمانية أزواجSo the answer is: Because the Qur'an is a description, speech, and speech is a description of the speaker. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic), among His attributes, is the Creator, and everything other than Him is created. And because the created thing is distinct from the Creator, because it is separated, and the separated thing is distinct from the Maker and detached from Him.
And for this reason, if a blacksmith makes ... for example, is it separate from him or one of his attributes? It is separate from him. And likewise, if a builder builds a palace, the palace is separate from him. So the created thing is a thing separate from the Creator, distinct from Him, unlike speech, for speech is a description of the speaker. And the Creator (Mighty and Majestic) is perfect in His attributes, and none of His attributes is created.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : ... .
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : I say the engineer ... .