Bayaan Talbees al-Ash'ariyyah [al-Kullaabiyah al-Jahmiyyah]

To the right is the cover of one of most famous of Ash'ari textbooks it is al-Bayjoori's Haashiyah (Marginal Commentary) upon "Jawharat ut-Tawheed". Al-Bayjuri is from the 13th century hijri (d. 1276H).

We already quoted previously from this book what proves that the Ash'arites hold that this Qur'an present with us, in letter and word, is created (see here), and they dislike that their true and real saying should be openly propagated. They have acted like this at least from the time of Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisi who debated with the Ash'arites in his time and exposed what is with them of deception and concealment.

In this article we want to quote another brief passage from the same book which corroborates and establishes that the Ash'arites believe just as the Jahmiyyah and Mu'tazilah believe that this Qur'an in our possession, which is recited, heard, memorized, written, in letter and word, is created. The only differences between them is that the Jahmiyyah do not affirm the attribute of speech (Kalaam) for Allaah and the Mu'tazilah affirm Kalaam but only as something created, just like "the House of Allaah", or "the Mosques of Allaah", or "the She-Camel of Allaah", and the Ash'arites affirm what was innovated by Ibn Kullaab (d. 240H) of the doctrine of "Kalaam Nafsee" on account of which they claim Allaah is "mutakallim" and described with "Kalaam". Thereafter, the dispute between the Mu'tazilah and the Ash'ariyyah became one of wording only and not an actual dispute in the reality of the affair. While they are all agreed that this Qur'an present with us is created, they simply disputed about the reality of that thing which if affirmed allows it to be said that Allaah is "mutakallim" (one who speaks) with "Kalaam" (speech) - and this is readily admitted by themselves in their own books, and its all just a matter of definitions (playing with words!). See these articles here.

Is the Created Qur'an Superior to the Prophet (alayhis salaam)?

To fully grasp what is to follow we suggest you go to this article first, from Ibn Battah (d. 387H) and have a good read of his statement, then come back here, so you can understand the reality of the position of the Asha'rites that is found in their textbooks and taught in their schools.

In al-Bayjoori's Haashiyah, (p. 161), there occurs, within the context of the discussion of the Qur'an:

This translates:

And is the Qur'an with the meaning of the wording that is recited more excellent? Or is our leader, Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) [more excellent]. Some of them have held on to what has been reported [that]: "Every letter is better than Muhammad and the family of Muhammad". However it's [authenticity] is not verified as established. And the truth is that he (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is more excellent because he is more excellent than every created thing (makhlooq), as is taken from the speech (i.e. commentary) of al-Jalaal al-Mahallee upon the Burdah. And what supports this is that it (the Qur'an) is the action of the reciter and the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is more excellent than the reciter and all of his actions. But it is safer to withhold from the likes of this, for the mind being devoid of this does not harm it. End summarized quote from the Haashiyah of the Shaykh, al-Ameer.

As you can see, this is as plain as broad daylight, that this Qur'an in our presence, in letter and word, recited by the reciter - which the Salaf held to be uncreated (meaning the words, not the voice of the reciter in conveying those words, but the words conveyed through the voice) - is to them something created. So they made an uncreated attribute of Allaah Most High, His Speech (Kalaam), of which is the Qur'aan - and the Qur'an is from Allaah's knowledge (ilm), and there is only one Qur'an, and it is all the same however it is found, and it is this Qur'an present with us, in letter and word - to be inferior to the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), alongside the fact that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is indeed the most excellent and superior amongst the creation. And whilst their statement that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) is superior to every created thing is certainly the truth, they have included within the created things the uncreated attribute of Allaah which is His Speech, which is His Qur'an, which is this Qur'an, for there are no two Qur'ans, the Salaf only knew of one Qur'an, and if you doubt that, then go to Ahmad bin Sinaan al-Waasitee (d. 258H), the Shaykh of al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, he'll tell you more about it, and go and ask Ibn Jareer at-Tabari (d. 310H), he will tell you more about it as well.

Compare the above from this major Ash'arite textbook with the saying of al-Imaam al-Bukhaaree in his monumental book "Khalq Af'aal il-Ibaad" (p. 57):

Alongside [the fact] that the Jahmiyyah and Mu'attilah, they dispute with the people of knowledge regarding the speech (qawl) of Allaah, that Allaah does not speak (takallam), and if He speaks, then His speech is created [i.e. the speech He creates amongst the creatures]. So they said:

The Qur'an that is recited [that comprises] Allaah's knowledge, is created (makhlooq).

So they did not distinguish between the [act of] recitation (tilaawah) of the servant and between that which is recited (maqroo').

This is a clear and explicit indication from the words of Imaam al-Bukhaaree (rahimahullaah) that what is taught by the Ash'arites through al-Bayuri's explanation of al-Jawharah, is the very doctrine of the Jahmiyyah, for al-Bayjuri states explicitly that the Qur'an which is "al-lafdh al-maqroo'", meaning the recited word (which is distinguished from the act of recitation of the servant) is created.

And al-Bayjuri says in another place (p. 162):

And the outcome (of this discussion) is that every apparent [text] from the Book and the Sunnah that indicates [its] Hudooth [meaning "created", to them the Mutakallimoon] then it is to be carried to [be in reference] to the wording [lafdh] that is recited (al-lafdh al-maqroo') and not the Kalaam Nafsi (meaning residing eternally with Allaah's Self]. However it is prohibited for it to be said, "The Qur'aan is created", except in the situation of teaching, as has been said.

And a couple of pages eary al-Bayjoori's said (p. 160), leaving no room for any doubt:

And the madhhab of Ahl us-Sunnah is that the Qur'an, with the meaning of al-Kalaam an-Nafsi [the meaning that resides eternally with the Self of Allaah] is not created. And as for the Qur'aan with the meaning of the lafdh (the wording) that we recite, then it is created. However, it is prohibited that it be said, "The Qur'aan is created" intending by that the wording which we recite - except in the context of teaching. Because it may give the presumption that the Qur'aan, with the meaning of His The Most High's Kalaam (i.e. that which resides in the Self) is created. And for this reason, the scholars withheld from speaking with the Qur'aan [being] created.

Meaning, that in our classrooms when we teach, we can say that the Qur'aan that is recited (and memorized) in its wording is actually created (makhlooq). And this, as we shall see, is none other than the saying of the Jahmites whom the Salaf declared as kaafirs (bil-umoom, in their generality) - as we can see from at-Tabaree in this article, by way of example only.

So he has affirmed for the third time that alongside the action of the servant in reciting being created (which is true) the content of the recitation, the wording being recited and being conveyed through the voices of the servants is created.

There is no doubt that this is the very kufr for which the Salaf made takfir of the Jahmiyyah, and we've seen it in plain black and white and this is being taught in all the curriculums, schools and institutes of the Ash'arites, and we have been led to believe that the Jahmites are a long gone and forgotten sect, yet here they are in full force!

Therefore, this is a clear proof that the contemporaries calling themselves "Ash'arites" are Jahmiyyah Lafdhiyyah. They use very calculated forms of deception in the way they craftily word their position on the issue of Allaah's Speech and the Qur'an so as to conceal the fact that in their books (like al-Bayjuri's Haashiyyah and the Jawharah) is the creed of the Jahmiyyah Lafdhiyyah whilst at the same time deceptively trying to give the impression of agreeing with the likes of Imaam Bukhaaree, when they are heavens apart from what Imaam Bukhaaree was upon, of affirming that Allaah spoke the Qur'an, in letter, word and voice, and that Jibreel heard it and conveyed it likewise to the Prophet (alayhis salaam), and that this Qur'an present with us, in letter and word, is the uncreated speech of Allaah, with speech being both meaning and word (ma'naa, lafdh) and letter and voice (harf, sawt) - and this is what the entirety of the Salaf were upon in opposition to the Jahmites, prior to the innovation of Ibn Kullaab al-Qattaan al-Basree (d. 240H) who is the true author of what became known as the "Ash'arite" creed.

And if they say that it is the "Kalaam Nafsee" that is uncreated, then this innovation was not known to the Salaf and nor to the Jahmiyyah and Mu'tazilah whose saying was declared to be kufr by the Salaf. This was unheard of until Ibn Kullaab (d. 240H) came along, thinking he could refute the Jahmiyyah and Mu'tazilah through their own usool, only to fall prey to them and to concoct and innovate a saying based upon those very same usool. So let them bring the proof that the dispute between the Salaf and the Jahmiyyah was not regarding this Qur'an present with us in letter and word, but something called "Kalaam Nafsee" - and they have 30 years to produce it (leaving aside the hundreds that have already passed)! And let them bring the proof that the takfir of the Salaf against the Jahmites was because the Jahmites (and the Mu'tazilah) were claiming that the "Kalaam Nafsee" (a doctrine strangely non-existent at that time) is created!