Why is the Qur’an called the speech of a messenger who conveys it?
2026-09-21
T84 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Selected explanation · Selected source passage(s) — fully translated
The complete paragraph at 17/83 is included. It distinguishes the Qur’an’s origin as Allah’s speech from its conveyance by a messenger. The Qur’anic quotation and closing report, previously omitted within the extract, are restored. Arabic vowel marks are omitted consistently; wording is retained. The English translates every displayed Arabic paragraph; this selection is not the complete surrounding work. Square brackets identify translator-supplied clarification.
النص العربي
المقتطف
لم يقل : إنه لقول ملك ولا بشر بل كفر من جعله قول بشر بقوله : { ذرني ومن خلقت وحيدا } { وجعلت له مالا ممدودا } { وبنين شهودا } { ومهدت له تمهيدا } { ثم يطمع أن أزيد } { كلا إنه كان لآياتنا عنيدا } { سأرهقه صعودا } { إنه فكر وقدر } { فقتل كيف قدر } { ثم قتل كيف قدر } { ثم نظر } { ثم عبس وبسر } { ثم أدبر واستكبر } { فقال إن هذا إلا سحر يؤثر } { إن هذا إلا قول البشر } فمن قال إنه قول بشر أو قول مخلوق غير البشر فقد كفر ومن جعله قول رسول من البشر فقد صدق ; لأن الرسول ليس له فيه إلا التبليغ والأداء كما قال تعالى : { يا أيها الرسول بلغ ما أنزل إليك من ربك } وفي سنن أبي داود عن جابر بن عبد الله { أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يعرض نفسه على الناس في الموسم ويقول : ألا رجل يحملني إلى قومه لأبلغ كلام ربي ؟ فإن قريشا قد منعوني أن أبلغ كلام ربي } .
English translation
English translation reviewed against the displayed Arabic by SalafAlSalih editorial preparation (AI-assisted); explanatory additions appear in square brackets or separate notes.
Selected explanation
He [Allah] did not say that it is the speech of an angel or of a human being. Rather, He declared the one who made it human speech an unbeliever through His words: “Leave Me with the one I created alone, for whom I made extensive wealth, and sons present [with him], and for whom I made ample provision. Yet he desires that I should give more. No! He has been obstinate toward Our signs. I shall burden him with a steep ascent. He considered and calculated. May he perish—how he calculated! Again, may he perish—how he calculated! Then he looked; then he frowned and scowled; then he turned away and was arrogant. He said: This is nothing but transmitted magic; this is nothing but human speech.” So whoever says it is human speech, or the speech of a created being other than a human, has disbelieved. Whoever describes it as the speech of a human messenger has spoken truthfully, because the messenger’s part in it is only to convey and deliver it. As He, Exalted is He, said: “O Messenger, convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord.” In Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh reported that the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, would present himself to people during the pilgrimage season and say: “Is there a man who will take me to his people so that I may convey the speech of my Lord? Quraysh have prevented me from conveying the speech of my Lord.”
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 17/83
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Full paragraph at printed p. 83 checked in the linked Arabic transcription. Source navigation markup removed and vowel marks omitted consistently. The Qur’anic citation and concluding report are included.