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Pronunciation And Divine Speech Issues

Q:
 [different questions on the discourse of the Quran ...]

A:
After seeking refuge in Allah from the accursed satan and 
with the Name of Allah all-Beneficent, most Merciful:

The Qur'an is the kalam (speech, discourse, words) of Allah Most High in
its ma`na (meaning), alfaz (words), tarkib (syntax) and ta`bir
(expression); and His kalam is among His uncreated Attributes. To say
'created' here is an innovation of the Rafidis and Mu`tazila.

The talaffuz (pronunciation, articulation, utterance, intonation,
elocution, voicing) and ada' (delivery), iblagh (imparting), inba'
(informing), i`lam (teaching) etc. of the Angel of revelation to the
Prophet, upon them blessings and peace, is the act of a creature, as are
our subsequent talaffuz and tilawa (recitation) or kitaba (writing) and
hifz (memorization) etc., and all our acts are created. To say
'uncreated' here is an innovation of the Mujassima and Mushabbiha.

The word 'lafz' is sometimes used in the first and sometimes in the
latter sense. This gave rise to much confusion and misunderstanding. See
the section on al-Karabisi in the chapter on Imam al-Shafi`i in my _Four
Imams and Their Schools_ as well as the appendix entitled "The
Controversy Over the Pronunciation of the Qur'an" in the same book. Yet,
by the consensus of the Imams of the Religion including the Jurists,
Sufis, and Hadith scholars of the Salaf and Khalaf, it is not a mark of
strong religion to delve into this issue.

As for the difference between Qur'an and Hadith (whether qudsi or not),
then the former is the literal Divine word which we recite as worship
(al-wahy lafzan wa-ma`nan al-matluw al-muta`abbad bih), while the latter
is the non-literal Divine meaning which we do not recite in our worship
(al-wahy ma`nan ghayr al-matluw ghayr al-muta`abbad bih). Both Qur'an
and Hadith constitute the revealed word of Allah Most High (kalam Allah
al-munzal) for reading, teaching, memorizing, understanding, and
practicing which Allah Most High has prepared everlasting estates as
vast as the heavens and the earth put together. May Allah Most High
direct you and me to what He loves and commands.

And tawfiq is from Allah Most High and He knows best what is correct.


GF Haddad
2009-04-15