Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The creed of the Salaf regarding the Noble Qur’an is based on what is stated in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. The Qur’an is truly the Word of Allah, revealed by Him, and it is His Word in both wording and meaning.
The Salaf believe that the Noble Qur’an is the Word of Allah. Allah truly spoke it, and it is not the speech of anyone else. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:
﴿And if any of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allah; then deliver him to his place of safety﴾ [At-Tawbah: 6].
What is meant by the “Word of Allah” in this verse is the Noble Qur’an.
Allah also said:
﴿Indeed, this Qur’an relates to the Children of Israel most of that over which they differ﴾ [An-Naml: 76].
According to the Salaf, the Qur’an is the Word of Allah in both wording and meaning. Allah truly spoke it and conveyed it to Jibril (Gabriel), peace be upon him, who then brought it down to the heart of the Prophet ﷺ so that he might be among the warners, in a clear Arabic tongue.
The Salaf also believe that the Qur’an was revealed by Allah, and that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, revealed it to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Qur’an was revealed gradually over twenty-three years, according to the wisdom of Allah Almighty.
Its revelation occurred in different forms: some passages were revealed without a specific preceding cause; some were revealed in response to particular circumstances; some were revealed concerning an event that occurred to the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions; and some were revealed containing new legal rulings.
This is part of Allah’s wisdom in revealing His Book, as the Qur’an was revealed in accordance with the circumstances, events, and rulings required by His divine wisdom.
Among the beliefs of the Salaf regarding the Qur’an is that it originated from Allah, and that it will return to Him at the end of time, as explained by the scholars in this matter.
The Qur’an is therefore not human speech. Rather, it is the Word of Allah that He revealed as guidance for humanity and through which He established the proof against them.
Allah described the Noble Qur’an with magnificent attributes, describing it as wise, noble, great, and glorious.
The effects of these attributes are not limited to knowing the Qur’an and honoring it verbally. Rather, their fruits appear in the life of the one who adheres to the Book of Allah and acts upon it outwardly and inwardly.
Adhering to the Qur’an and acting according to it is a cause of honor, glory, wisdom, strength, and authority. Therefore, Muslims should make the Book of Allah their way of life and adhere to it in belief, worship, morals, and conduct.
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him, called upon Muslims—rulers and subjects, scholars and ordinary people—to adhere to the Book of Allah outwardly and inwardly, because this brings about honor, happiness, glory, and ascendancy.
The creed of the Salaf regarding the Noble Qur’an is that it is truly the Word of Allah, His Word in both wording and meaning, revealed by Him to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through Jibril (Gabriel), peace be upon him. It was revealed gradually over twenty-three years according to the wisdom of Allah Almighty.
The methodology of the Salaf also emphasizes that the obligation is not merely to believe in the Qur’an and honor it, but to adhere to it and act upon what it contains, outwardly and inwardly, because this results in guidance, honor, and happiness.
And Allah knows best.