His saying, the Exalted: “And Allah warns you of Himself” — is the meaning the punishment of Himself?
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The questioner : His saying: [Ali 'Imran 3:28]?
The Shaykh : If I say, “I warn you of myself,” everyone knows that is not the meaning. One does not deter the other from himself. The meaning is: He warns you of the punishment that is with Him. But this is more emphatic; that is, attributing the warning to the Self is more emphatic than attributing it to the act. So if we say “the punishment of Himself,” the attribution is to the warning, and if we say “Himself,” it becomes more severe. Yes.
Allah warns you of Himself
يحذركم الله نفسهThe Shaykh : If I say, “I warn you of myself,” everyone knows that is not the meaning. One does not deter the other from himself. The meaning is: He warns you of the punishment that is with Him. But this is more emphatic; that is, attributing the warning to the Self is more emphatic than attributing it to the act. So if we say “the punishment of Himself,” the attribution is to the warning, and if we say “Himself,” it becomes more severe. Yes.