Is Allah’s (s.w.t.) Speech Heard?

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Imam Abu Manswur Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Maturidi (r.a.) said that the Speech of Allah (s.w.t.), is not heard. rather, what is heard is that which points to it.  Imam al-Maturidi (r.a.) said al-masmu’, that which is heard, only applies to that which connects with the sense of hearing; that which connects with it are the sounds that point to the Pre-Eternal Attribute.  As for the actual Pre-Eternal Attribute, both Imam al-Maturidi (r.a.) and Imam Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali ibn Isma’il al-Ash’ari (r.a.) held that it has no connection with the senses and that the senses have no connection with it.  The disagreement is regarding whether a Pre-Eternal Attribute being heard or not.  For Imam al-Maturidi (r.a.), hearing is conditioned upon the connection of the senses, and for that reason he denied that Kalam Nafsi, Inner Speech, can be heard. 

Imam al-Ash’ari (r.a.) said that it is heard – as is well known in the story of Musa (a.s.).  Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Furak (r.a.) said, “Two things are heard during the recitation of the reader: the voice of the reader and the Speech of Allah (s.w.t.).” 

Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn ath-Thayyib al-Baqillani (r.a.) said, “Allah’s (s.w.t.) Speech is not heard in the conventional sense, rather; it is possible for Allah (s.w.t.) to Allow any of His Creation that He Wills to hear it, contrary to customary means and contrary to it being with the medium of letters and sound.” 

Imam Abu Ishaq ‘Ali ibn Fadhl al-Isfarayini (r.a.) and those who follow him said, “Allah’s (s.w.t.) Speech is not heard at all.”  This was the chosen view of Imam al-Maturidi (r.a.), as found in al-Bidayah min al-Kifayah fi al-Hidayah fi Uswul ad-Din, of Imam Nur ad-Din Ahmad ibn Mahmud asw-Swabuni (r.a.).