There is nothing in the Quran or Sunnah to indicate that Muslims have been forbidden to discuss the spirit on the basis of what the Quran and Sunnah establish, whether concerning its essence or its attributes. Speaking without knowledge, however, is forbidden in every matter.

Yet it is established in the two Sahīh collections, on the authority of Ibn Mas‘ūd, that:

“The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was in one of the lanes of Medina. Some of them said, ‘Ask him about the spirit.’ Others said, ‘Do not ask him, lest he tell you something you dislike.’ He said: They asked him while he was leaning on a palm stalk, and Allah revealed this verse.”

He thereby made clear that the Lord’s dominion is immense, and that His hosts, the nature of all this, and His power are too great for human beings to comprehend fully. They have been given only a little knowledge. Thus, no one who claims knowledge should imagine that he can know everything he is asked about, or everything that exists. For none knows the hosts of your Lord except Him.