The concept of speech and logic in the Holy Qur'an, akin to a precious gateway within the ocean of divine knowledge, opens the path towards profound understanding of the attributes of the Almighty and the characteristics of created beings. These concepts, expressed with unparalleled subtlety and depth in the luminous verses of the Holy Qur'an, on one hand refer to the active divine attribute of Logic which guides beings towards expression and testimony, and on the other hand reveal the speaking nature of all existence within the framework of their being.
This treatise endeavours, through reflection on Qur'anic verses and scholarly analyses, to elucidate these two concepts within a coherent framework and in an eloquent and lucid language. Its aim is that the reader, like a traveller on the path of truth, accompanied by divine verses and profound contemplations, attains a comprehensive understanding of speech and logic within the providential system.
The attribute of Logic in the Holy Qur'an is among the active and knowledgeable names of the Almighty, mentioned twice in the luminous verses. This attribute, signifying the compelling of beings to speech and expression, is like a key that unlocks the silence of existence and summons every entity to testify and declare the truth of its own being.
"They said: Allah, who made everything speak, has made us speak, and He created you the first time, and to Him you will return."
(Surah Fussilat, 41:21)
This verse, shining like a radiant light in the sky of knowledge, indicates that God, by the attribute of Logic, has compelled all creatures to speech. The skins of human beings on the Day of Resurrection will speak as witnesses against their deeds, attributing this speaking nature to the Lord who made everything speak. This phrase reflects the universality of speech within the system of existence, denying no creature this characteristic.
The noble verse, by referring to "He created you the first time and to Him you return", connects speech with the initial creation and the eventual return to the Almighty. This connection is like a thread linking the beginning and the end of existence and introduces speech as a component of the providential system. God, the first Creator and the final destination, by granting speech, guides beings towards expressing the truth of their existence.
The attribute of Logic not only indicates Gods ability to compel beings to speech but also testifies to the speechfulness of the Almighty Himself. Just as the actor compelling purity is Himself pure, Logic necessitates God being a speaker. Although the explicit term Speaker does not appear in the Qur'an, multiple verses act as gushing springs revealing divine speechfulness through words of truth and justice.
The Holy Qur'an in several verses alludes to the speech of creatures and does not introduce any being as mute or inert. These verses, like mirrors, reflect the dual aspects of apparent and inner speech.
"Why do you not speak?"
(Surah fft, 37:92)
"So ask them, if they are able to speak."
(Surah Al-Anbiy, 21:63)
In these verses, the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), through questions such as Why do you not speak? and So ask them if they can speak, highlights the impotence of idols in apparent speech and consumption. These questions, like arrows directed at idolaters, reveal the inability of idols compared to humans. However, these verses negate only the apparent speech and do not deny the inner speech that manifests in the domain of Resurrection.
The noble verse He made everything speak indicates that all creatures, even inanimate objects, possess inner speechfulness which on the Day of Resurrection, like the testimony of skins against human deeds, will become manifest. This speechfulness flows like a river within the course of existence, revealing the consciousness and existential awareness of beings.
The Holy Qur'an, by emphasising the speechfulness of all beings, negates any muteness or inertia. This negation, like a sail, guides the ship of knowledge towards deeper understanding, indicating that speech is a general attribute for all creatures, albeit varying in accordance with the existential capacity of each being.
The Holy Qur'an, in luminous verses, refers to the granting of knowledge and the logic of birds to David and Solomon, peace be upon them:
"And indeed We gave David and Solomon knowledge, and they said: Praise be to Allah, who favoured us above many of His believing servants."
(Surah An-Naml, 27:15)
"And Solomon inherited David, and he said: O people, we have been taught the speech of birds and given from everything. Indeed, this is evident grace."
(Surah An-Naml, 27:16)
These verses, like stars in the sky of wisdom, indicate the bestowal of special knowledge and the logic of birds upon David and Solomon, peace be upon them. This knowledge, beyond apparent science, is a gem encompassing inner cognition and understanding of beings consciousness.
The logic of birds, meaning the understanding of the language and consciousness of birds, acts as a key that opened the doors of knowledge to Solomon, peace be upon him. This speechfulness laid the foundation for his authority and guardianship, as the Qur'an states:
"And gathered for Solomon his armies of jinn, mankind and birds."
(Surah An-Naml, 27
