Is the self (nafs) mentioned in the texts an attribute of Allah (Mighty and Majestic)?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Mashhur: Is the self (nafs) mentioned in the verses and hadiths an attribute of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) belonging to the Essence, or is it the Essence itself? The reason for this question is that the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) criticizes those who say that the self is an attribute of Allah, and he holds that it is the Essence, interpreting it according to the common usage in the language; for example, "I saw Zayd himself," meaning: his Essence. So I do not know whether you agree with the Shaykh al-Islam in this statement or disagree with him?
The Shaykh : I do not have a clear opinion on this issue, but in my belief, the word "self" is interpreted according to the text in which it appears. For example, do you have a text from those texts in mind?
Mashhur: The Shaykh mentioned several texts, including these:[Al-Ma'idah 5:116], [Ali 'Imran 3:28], , and the transmitted hadiths.
The Shaykh : On the surface, here the self means the Essence.
Mashhur: And likewise in the other hadiths.
The Shaykh : I am not able to make a general declaration; therefore.
Mashhur: A person brings texts and enumerates... from the texts and criticizes those who say: that it is an attribute additional to the Essence. This is the thing... .
The Shaykh: Yes.
Mashhur: Even though, for example, al-Hafiz "Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi" in his "Creed" mentions the attributes one by one, and mentions the self.
The Shaykh : It is one of the attributes.
Mashhur: Likewise "Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Darimi," and likewise "Ibn Khuzaymah," and a group of others.
The Shaykh : I, as I told you at the beginning of the answer: I do not have a comprehensive study on the subject, but the rule is that we interpret the word according to its context; so in some of the texts you mentioned, it appears that the intended meaning of the self is the Essence, and Allah knows best.
Mashhur: May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Do you have anything else? Hmm?
Another questioner : ... the first one.
The Shaykh: Go ahead.
The Shaykh : I do not have a clear opinion on this issue, but in my belief, the word "self" is interpreted according to the text in which it appears. For example, do you have a text from those texts in mind?
Mashhur: The Shaykh mentioned several texts, including these:
You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself
تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَلَا أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَAnd Allah warns you of Himself
وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُYour Lord has decreed mercy for Himself
كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَThe Shaykh : On the surface, here the self means the Essence.
Mashhur: And likewise in the other hadiths.
The Shaykh : I am not able to make a general declaration; therefore.
Mashhur: A person brings texts and enumerates... from the texts and criticizes those who say: that it is an attribute additional to the Essence. This is the thing... .
The Shaykh: Yes.
Mashhur: Even though, for example, al-Hafiz "Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi" in his "Creed" mentions the attributes one by one, and mentions the self.
The Shaykh : It is one of the attributes.
Mashhur: Likewise "Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Darimi," and likewise "Ibn Khuzaymah," and a group of others.
The Shaykh : I, as I told you at the beginning of the answer: I do not have a comprehensive study on the subject, but the rule is that we interpret the word according to its context; so in some of the texts you mentioned, it appears that the intended meaning of the self is the Essence, and Allah knows best.
Mashhur: May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Do you have anything else? Hmm?
Another questioner : ... the first one.
The Shaykh: Go ahead.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.