إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ (40)
(69:40) that this is the speech of an honourable Messenger, *22
*22) Here, "an honourable Messenger" implies the Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) and in Surah At-Takvir: 19. the angel Gabriel (peace be on him), the argument being that after describing the Qur'an as the Word of an honourable Messenger, it has been said: "It is not the word of a poet ... nor of a soothsayer," and obviously the disbelievers of Makkah branded the Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) and not Gabriel as a poet and soothsayer. On the contrary, in Surah At-Takvir, after describing the Qur'an as the word of "a noble messenger" it has been said: "That Messenger has great power, and has high ranks with the Owner of the Throne: there he is obeyed and held as trustworthy ... And Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) has seen him on the bright horizon." (vv. 20-23). Almost the same thing has been stated in An-Najm: 5-10 about Gabriel. Here, the question arises; In what sense has the Qur'an been described as the Word of Muhanunad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings! and of Gabriel? The answer is: the people were hearing it being recited by the tongue of the Holy Prophet and the Holy Prophet by the tongue of Gabriel. Thereupon, in one way it was the word of the Holy Prophet and in another way of Gabriel, but a little below it has been explicitly stated: "It is indeed a Revelation from the Lord of the worlds,' which is being presented before Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) by , the tongue of Gabriel (peace he on him) and before the people by the tongue of Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings). The word Messenger itself points to the truth that the Word belongs to neither of them but they have presented it as Messengers of the One Who has sent it down.