Muslims have great differences about the “words of God” and every group has interpreted this in its own manner.

The Hambalis believe that the “Word of God” comprises of actual words and sounds and God as an entity is established and ever living. They insist on it so much that let alone they consider the cover of the Qura’n to be ancient also.

Another group says that these words and sounds are the words of God and despite being finite they are connected to God. (The weakness of this idea is not worth mentioning). Their insistence is nothing less than that of the Hambalis.

The third group believes that the “word of God” is these words and sounds. They are finite and not God but are deemed to be one of the creations of God. God has created them in Gabriel, the messenger or the tree of Moses.

The fourth and final group are the Asharis who believe that the “words of God’ are not actual words or sounds but those meanings that are attached with God. They call it “Kalam Nafsi” and believe it to be eternal (1). They believe that he who believes Qura’n to be a creation is a disbeliever and it is permissible to kill him. (2)

In the early history of Islam we find the disputes regarding the words of God being eternal and creation led to accusing each other of blasphemy and bloodshed ., these are the disputes that till date have not been fully solved or explained. It can be said that they were the creations of the politicians who believed in the principle of divide and rule and these disputes lingered on for a long time in Islamic history.

1. Sharah Tajrid Qaushaji page 417

2. Mallal WA Nahal of Shahristani vol.1 page 106.