the children of Adam is part of that attribute. Yet the verse establishes neither of these two premises. And Allah, glorified be He, knows best.

The word “spirit” may also occur in the Quran with another meaning, as in His words:

“And thus We have revealed to you a spirit by Our command.”

And His words:

“He has inscribed faith in their hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Him.”

And other similar passages. The Quran that Allah sent down is His speech, but discussion of this falls outside the question.

As for the questioner’s words, “Does what is left to Allah concern the spirit’s essence, its attributes, or both?”—this is not peculiar to discussion of the spirit. Rather, no one may pursue that of which they have no knowledge, or say about Allah what they do not know.

Allah Most High says:

“Do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—all of these will be questioned.”

And Allah Most High says:

“Say: My Lord has only forbidden shameful deeds, whether open or hidden, sin, unjust aggression, associating with Allah that for which He has sent down no authority, and saying about Allah what you do not know.”

And Allah Most High says:

“Was not the covenant of the Scripture taken from them, that they would say nothing about Allah except the truth?”

When He said to the angels:

“Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful,”

they said:

“Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”

Moses said to al-Khidr:

“May I follow you so that you teach me some of the sound guidance you have been taught?”

And when the sparrow dipped its beak into the sea, al-Khidr said to Moses: “Compared with Allah’s knowledge, my knowledge and yours are no more than what this sparrow has taken from this sea.”