their death.’
[al-Zumar 42]

The fourth is the intellect. Allah Most High says:

‘It is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have done by day.’
[al-An‘ām 60]

This is because all a person’s other states remain unchanged during sleep; it is the intellect alone whose state differs between sleep and wakefulness.

The fifth is a thing’s essence and very self. Allah Most High says:

‘They seek to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive none but themselves, though they do not realize it.’ (9)
[al-Baqarah 9]

‘So kill yourselves.’
[al-Baqarah 54]

‘But they wronged themselves.’
[Hūd 101]

Once this is understood, we say that the word nafs (self), when used of Allah Most High, means nothing other than His essence and reality. Thus His words, ‘And I have chosen you for Myself,’ are akin to an emphatic expression conveying added emphasis. For when someone says, ‘I have set aside this house for myself and built it for myself,’ this is understood as conveying emphasis.

And His words:

‘You know what is within me, but I do not know what is within You. Indeed, You are the Knower of all that is unseen.’
[al-Mā’idah 116]