Exegesis of the statement of the Exalted: "And they ask you about the soul. Say: The soul is from the command of my Lord"
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Q94: The listener M. A. from the state of Turkey says in his question: What is the exegesis of the statement of the Exalted in Surat al-Isra: [Al-Isra 17:85-87]?
A94: The Jews said to the polytheists of Mecca, "Ask this man Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) about three matters: The first matter is about the People of the Cave. The second matter is about Dhul-Qarnayn. And the third matter is about the soul. If he answers you about them, then he is a prophet." So Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, revealed the answer to these questions, about the People of the Cave and about Dhul-Qarnayn, as for
the soul, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:[Al-Isra 17:85], so He did not answer their question. Then it is among the specific attributes of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, that He is the One who created it, and He is the One who knows it, and no one from among the creation knows it. So it is a secret among the secrets, and it will remain a secret. This is among the miracles of the Qur'an, for despite the advancement of medicine and skill in it, and despite the efforts in researching this subject, they have not known anything about the reality of the soul, [Al-Isra 17:85]. The intended meaning of the soul is that by which a person lives. This secret by which a person or another being lives; if it separates from him completely, he becomes dead, and if it separates from him partially, he becomes sleeping. So the soul has connections with the body: a connection with the body while he is in his mother's womb, a connection with the body after he is born in worldly life and he is awake, a connection with the body while he is sleeping, a connection with the body while he is in the grave, and a connection with the body in the Hereafter, which is the final connection, a connection after which there is no separation. So this soul is among the wonders that
no one knows except Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. It was said that the intended meaning of the soul is Jibril (peace be upon him). It was said that the intended meaning of the soul is an angel from the angels, or a group of angels. In any case, the soul is a secret among the secrets of Allah, which His servants have not been informed of, Glorified and Exalted is He:[Al-Isra 17:85]. So however much knowledge humans are given, their knowledge is little compared to any proportion of the knowledge of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. As for His statement, the Exalted: [Al-Isra 17:86], that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, revealed this Qur'an as a favor upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), it is among the greatest of blessings. He said, the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:113], so it is among
the greatest of blessings that Allah, the Exalted, bestowed upon this noble Prophet and upon his Ummah until the Day of Resurrection; for by it is their happiness in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah is able to take away this Qur'an and remove this blessing, just as He is the One who revealed it, so He is able to take it away. And that is what Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, reminds us of regarding this blessing so that we may benefit from it and profit by it.
(85) And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little." (86) And if We willed, We could surely do away with that which We revealed to you. Then you would not find for yourself concerning it an advocate against Us. (87) Except [We have left it with you] as a mercy from your Lord. Indeed, His favor upon you has ever been great.
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً (85) وَلَئِنْ شِئْنَا لَنَذْهَبَنَّ بِالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُ لَكَ بِهِ عَلَيْنَا وَكِيلاً (86) إِلاَّ رَحْمَةً مِنْ رَبِّكَ إِنَّ فَضْلَهُ كَانَ عَلَيْكَ كَبِيرًاA94: The Jews said to the polytheists of Mecca, "Ask this man Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) about three matters: The first matter is about the People of the Cave. The second matter is about Dhul-Qarnayn. And the third matter is about the soul. If he answers you about them, then he is a prophet." So Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, revealed the answer to these questions, about the People of the Cave and about Dhul-Qarnayn, as for
the soul, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:
And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little."
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاًSay, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord
قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّيno one knows except Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. It was said that the intended meaning of the soul is Jibril (peace be upon him). It was said that the intended meaning of the soul is an angel from the angels, or a group of angels. In any case, the soul is a secret among the secrets of Allah, which His servants have not been informed of, Glorified and Exalted is He:
Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little."
قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاًAnd if We willed, We could surely do away with that which We revealed to you. Then you would not find for yourself concerning it an advocate against Us.
وَلَئِنْ شِئْنَا لَنَذْهَبَنَّ بِالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُ لَكَ بِهِ عَلَيْنَا وَكِيلاًAnd Allah has revealed to you the Book and wisdom and has taught you that which you did not know. And ever has the favor of Allah upon you been great.
وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًاthe greatest of blessings that Allah, the Exalted, bestowed upon this noble Prophet and upon his Ummah until the Day of Resurrection; for by it is their happiness in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah is able to take away this Qur'an and remove this blessing, just as He is the One who revealed it, so He is able to take it away. And that is what Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, reminds us of regarding this blessing so that we may benefit from it and profit by it.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.