Is the self (nafs) mentioned in the texts an attribute of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), or is it His essence? Because the Shaykh al-Islam criticizes those who say it is an attribute, interpreting it according to its linguistic meaning.
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Mashhur: Is the self (nafs) mentioned in the verses and hadiths an attribute of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) distinct from His essence, or is it His essence? The reason for this question is that the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) criticizes those who say the self is an attribute of Allah, and he considers it to be His essence, based on the common usage in the language, like saying "I saw Zayd himself." Do you agree with the Shaykh al-Islam in this statement, or do you disagree?
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 recall a text from those texts?
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 cannot make a general statement about that...
Mashhur: Well, a person brings the texts and enumerates them, and criticizes those who say it is an attribute added to Allah. This is the matter...
The Shaykh : Yes
Mashhur: ... in his creed, he mentions attributes, one attribute
The Shaykh : one of the attributes
Mashhur: And likewise Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Darimi, and likewise Ibn Khuzaymah and a group...
The Shaykh : 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. In the texts you mentioned, the intended meaning of the self is the essence. And Allah knows best.
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 recall a text from those texts?
Mashhur: The Shaykh mentioned several texts, including these:
You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself
تعلم ما في نفسي ولا أعلم ما في نفسكAllah warns you of Himself
يحذركم الله نفسهYour Lord has written mercy upon Himself
كتب ربكم على نفسه الرحمةThe Shaykh : On the surface, here the self means the essence.
Mashhur: And likewise in the other hadiths.
The Shaykh : I cannot make a general statement about that...
Mashhur: Well, a person brings the texts and enumerates them, and criticizes those who say it is an attribute added to Allah. This is the matter...
The Shaykh : Yes
Mashhur: ... in his creed, he mentions attributes, one attribute
The Shaykh : one of the attributes
Mashhur: And likewise Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Darimi, and likewise Ibn Khuzaymah and a group...
The Shaykh : 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. In the texts you mentioned, the intended meaning of the self is the essence. And Allah knows best.