What is the meaning of Imam Ahmad's statement (It is not permissible for us to say that the Qur'an is created or uncreated)?
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The questioner : May Allah guide you to what He loves and is pleased with: Imam al-Lalika'i mentioned in his explanation of the principles of the people of the Sunnah and the community a statement by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah be pleased with him), which is: "It is not permissible for us to say that the Qur'an is created, and it is not permissible for us to say that the Qur'an is not created". What is the meaning of Imam Ahmad's statement, may Allah guide you?
The Shaykh : Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) did not say: The well-known statement attributed to him is: "Whoever says that my recitation of the Qur'an is created is a Jahmi".
And whoever says that my recitation of the Qur'an is uncreated is an innovator. This is his intended meaning, and this is what was transmitted from him. It was also transmitted from him in another wording: "Whoever says that my recitation of the Qur'an is created, intending the Qur'an itself, is a Jahmi".
And his intended meaning (may Allah have mercy on him) is: When you recite the Qur'an, there is something being recited and there is the recitation itself. The recitation is your utterance, the movement of your tongue and lips. This is created, without doubt, is it not? I am asking you?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : You have just read. Read to me a verse from the Qur'an.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, this recitation now contains an audible voice that we heard, and the movement of the lips, tongue, and throat. Is it not so? Do you not acknowledge this?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : No, we ask him: Do you not acknowledge this?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Okay, is this created or uncreated? That is, is your movement and the voice we heard created or uncreated?
The questioner : The voice... is created.
The Shaykh : Created. Okay, is the heard thing, which is the Qur'an, or what is spoken, created or uncreated? The Qur'an is uncreated. This distinction is the truth. As for the absolute statement, saying: "My utterance is created or uncreated," this is not permissible.
And the conclusion is: If a person says, "My recitation of the Qur'an is created," we ask him: Did you intend your action, which is the movement of the tongue, lips, and the audible voice, which is created? Or did you intend what you spoke, which is the Qur'an, which is uncreated?
The Shaykh : Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) did not say: The well-known statement attributed to him is: "Whoever says that my recitation of the Qur'an is created is a Jahmi".
And whoever says that my recitation of the Qur'an is uncreated is an innovator. This is his intended meaning, and this is what was transmitted from him. It was also transmitted from him in another wording: "Whoever says that my recitation of the Qur'an is created, intending the Qur'an itself, is a Jahmi".
And his intended meaning (may Allah have mercy on him) is: When you recite the Qur'an, there is something being recited and there is the recitation itself. The recitation is your utterance, the movement of your tongue and lips. This is created, without doubt, is it not? I am asking you?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : You have just read. Read to me a verse from the Qur'an.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, this recitation now contains an audible voice that we heard, and the movement of the lips, tongue, and throat. Is it not so? Do you not acknowledge this?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : No, we ask him: Do you not acknowledge this?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Okay, is this created or uncreated? That is, is your movement and the voice we heard created or uncreated?
The questioner : The voice... is created.
The Shaykh : Created. Okay, is the heard thing, which is the Qur'an, or what is spoken, created or uncreated? The Qur'an is uncreated. This distinction is the truth. As for the absolute statement, saying: "My utterance is created or uncreated," this is not permissible.
And the conclusion is: If a person says, "My recitation of the Qur'an is created," we ask him: Did you intend your action, which is the movement of the tongue, lips, and the audible voice, which is created? Or did you intend what you spoke, which is the Qur'an, which is uncreated?