As for self-subsisting entities, they are not called “a command,” not in the sense of the object—that which is commanded—just as the Messiah was called a word because he was brought into being by the word, and just as that which is brought about by power is called “power,” Paradise is called “mercy,” and rain is called “mercy,” as in His words:

“So look at the effects of Allah’s mercy—how He gives life to the earth after its death.”

And in the statement of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, reporting from his Lord that He said to Paradise:

“You are My mercy; through you I show mercy to whomever I will.”

And his statement:

“When Allah created mercy, He created it as a hundred mercies.”

There are many similar examples. This was the answer given by Abū Saʿīd al-Kharrāz. He said: If someone objects that the Most High has said:

“Say, ‘The spirit is of my Lord’s command,’”

and that His command is from Him, the reply is that His command, Most High, means that which is commanded, brought into being by the creative act of the One who brings it into being.

Similarly, Ibn Qutayba discussed the categories of the spirit in (Kitāb al-Mushkil—The Book of Difficult Passages), saying: It is the spirit of bodies, which Allah takes at death; and “the Spirit” is Gabriel. The Most High said:

“The Trustworthy Spirit brought it down.”

And He said:

“And We supported him with the Holy Spirit,”

meaning Gabriel. According to what the Quran commentators have mentioned, the Spirit is also a mighty angel among the angels of Allah Most High, who stands alone, forming a row, while the angels stand in another row. The Most High said:

“They ask you about the spirit. Say, ‘The spirit is of my Lord’s command.’”

He said: The spirit is attributed to Allah because it comes into being by His command, or because it comes into being by His word.

The second reason is that the word (min), meaning “of” or “from,” may indicate a kind or substance in Arabic, as when one says, “a door of iron.” It may also indicate a point of departure, as when one says, “I departed from Mecca.” Thus, His words, Most High:

“Say, ‘The spirit is of my Lord’s command,’”

do not explicitly state that the spirit is part of the command and is of