As for the speculative theologians, some define a body as anything that exists; others, as that which subsists in itself; others, as that which is composed of atoms; and others, as that which is composed of matter and form. All these maintain that it can be pointed to by a sensory gesture. Others say that it is composed of neither, but is something that can be pointed to and described as being here or there.
Accordingly, if the spirit can be pointed to and the deceased’s gaze follows it—as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“When the spirit departs, the gaze follows it, and it is taken and raised to heaven”
—then the spirit is a body according to this technical usage.
The point is that if the spirit exists, is alive, possesses knowledge, power, hearing and sight, ascends and descends, comes and goes, and has other such attributes, human minds nevertheless cannot determine its precise nature or define it, because they have never observed anything comparable to it. A thing’s reality can only be apprehended by observing it or observing something comparable to it.
Thus, if the spirit possesses these attributes without resembling the creatures that we observe, then the Creator is all the more distinct from His creatures, while possessing the names and attributes that rightfully belong to Him. Those endowed with reason are even less capable of defining Him or determining the manner of His being than they are of defining the spirit or determining the manner of its being.