To Believe that Allah No Longer Speaks is Tantamount to Idolatry (Verdict of the Salaf)

Regrettably, many Muslims, who blind follow their Mullas and Shaikhs, believe that all forms of divine revelation have ceased with the death of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaho alaihi wasallam) and now Allah no longer speaks to mankind. But we shall see that such a doctrine is the very antithesis of Islam, and is a resemblance to idolatry. Allah Most High says in the Qur'an regarding the idol of the golden calf that was worshiped in the time of Prophet Moses:

اَلَمۡ یَرَوۡا اَنَّہٗ لَا یُکَلِّمُہُمۡ وَ لَا یَہۡدِیۡہِمۡ سَبِیۡلًا

“Did they not see that is could neither speak to them nor guide them to a path?” [7:148]

Similarly, in Prophet Abraham's (peace be upon him) debate with his polytheistic nation, he instructed them to ask their large idol a question, to which they replied:

ثُمَّ نُکِسُوۡا عَلٰی رُءُوۡسِہِمۡ ۚ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتَ مَا ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ یَنۡطِقُوۡنَ

Then they hung their heads (in shame) (saying): “You know very well that these (idols) do not speak” [21:65]

To which the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) replied:

قَالَ اَفَتَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مَا لَا یَنۡفَعُکُمۡ شَیۡئًا وَّ لَا یَضُرُّکُمۡ

(Abraham) said: “Do you then worship besides Allah that which can neither benefit you in the least nor harm you?” [21:66]

So we see that the quality of speech and the ability to speak is an Attribute of Allah, and it must never cease, otherwise there will be no difference between Allah, Holy and Exalted is He, and the dead, lifeless and mute idols which are worshiped by the deviated pagans.

The authentic narrator of Hadith and Imam Harun b. Ma'ruf (d. 231 H) said:

من زعم أن الله لا يتكلم ، فهو يعبد الأصنام

Translation: “Whoever claims that Allah does not speak [present tense], then such a person is a worshipper of idols!”

Reference: Kitab-us-Sunnah of Imam Abdullah b. Hanbal; p.172, no.209