How to interpret the words of Imam Ahmad: Whoever says the word of the Qur'an is created is a Jahmi, and whoever says it is not created is an innovator
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The Shaykh : If someone were to say that Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Whoever says the word of the Qur'an is created is a Jahmi, and whoever says it is not created is an innovator", and that he rejected both statements?
We say: Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) clarified that his statement: "Whoever says the word of the Qur'an is created" means the Qur'an itself, as it came in another narration from him, where he said: "Whoever says: 'The word of the Qur'an is created,' meaning the Qur'an itself, is a Jahmi". This is... the Jahmiyyah.
As for whoever says it is not created, he is an innovator because the Salaf did not say it this way, and Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) was keen to adhere to what came from the Salaf, not going beyond or exceeding it.
So, if someone says the word of the Qur'an is created, we say he erred, and if someone says it is not created, he erred. Rather, one must distinguish: if he means by "word" the word that is spoken, is it not created? It is not created. If he says it is created, he is a Jahmi. And if he means by "word" the act of utterance, which is the action of the one speaking, is it? It is created. Yes, he says, yes, read.
We say: Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) clarified that his statement: "Whoever says the word of the Qur'an is created" means the Qur'an itself, as it came in another narration from him, where he said: "Whoever says: 'The word of the Qur'an is created,' meaning the Qur'an itself, is a Jahmi". This is... the Jahmiyyah.
As for whoever says it is not created, he is an innovator because the Salaf did not say it this way, and Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) was keen to adhere to what came from the Salaf, not going beyond or exceeding it.
So, if someone says the word of the Qur'an is created, we say he erred, and if someone says it is not created, he erred. Rather, one must distinguish: if he means by "word" the word that is spoken, is it not created? It is not created. If he says it is created, he is a Jahmi. And if he means by "word" the act of utterance, which is the action of the one speaking, is it? It is created. Yes, he says, yes, read.