and His statement—“a spring from which the servants of Allah drink” (al-Insan 6).

Whenever something is grammatically annexed to the divine name, then if that thing is an attribute that does not subsist in a created being—such as knowledge, power, speech, or life—it is counted as one of His attributes. If, however, it is a self-standing entity or an attribute belonging to another, such as the House, the she-camel, the servant, or the spirit, then it is a created thing, owned by its Creator and Master. Still, the very act of annexation indicates that the item in question possesses distinctive qualities setting it apart from others and thus meriting the honor of being attached to Him. Just as the Kaʿbah, the she-camel, and the righteous servants are distinguished so that one may say “the House of Allah,” “the she-camel of Allah,” and “the servants of Allah,” in the same way the chosen spirit is singled out so that it is called “the Spirit of Allah.”

By contrast, wicked spirits—such as the spirits of devils and unbelievers—are indeed created by Allah, yet they are not annexed to Him in the manner of the sanctified spirits; nor are inanimate objects annexed to Him as the Kaʿbah is, or people’s ordinary camels as Sâlih’s she-camel was, that she-camel having been one of His signs. As He, exalted is He, said: “This is the she-camel of Allah, a sign for you” (al-Aʿraf 73).