Moreover, He—glorified and exalted be He—knows what is said secretly and what is said openly, and He knows the servant’s deeds. There is therefore no reason to single out the jugular vein by saying that He is nearer to the servant than it is. The jugular vein is close to the heart, not to the servant’s outward speech, whereas He knows both the outward and inward aspects of the human being.

The Most High says:

“Whether you conceal your speech or declare it openly, He knows well what is within the hearts.”

“Does He who created not know, when He is the Most Subtle, the All-Aware?”

The Most High also says:

“He knows the secret and what is even more hidden.”

And He says:

“Do they not know that Allah knows their secrets and their private conversations, and that Allah is the Knower of all unseen things?”

And He says:

“Or do they think that We do not hear their secrets and their private conversations? Indeed We do, and Our messengers are with them, recording.”

And He says:

“Do you not see that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth? No three converse privately without Him being their fourth, nor five without Him being their sixth, nor fewer than that nor more without Him being with them wherever they may be. Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. Indeed, Allah knows all things.”

Further evidence that nearness here does not mean knowledge is His saying:

“We have certainly created man, and We know what his soul whispers to him, and We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.”

“When the two recording angels record, one seated on the right and the other on the left.”

He states that He knows what the person’s soul whispers to him, then says:

“And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.”

Thus He affirms knowledge and affirms nearness, presenting them as two distinct things; one must therefore not be equated with the other. He also qualifies this nearness by saying:

“When the two recording angels record, one seated on the right and the other on the left.”

“He utters no word but that beside him is”