and His attributes.

Similarly, evidence may be found in Allah's statement

to Zakariyya in the Qur'an:

"I created you before and you were nothing."

Qur'an, 19:9

The term "human being" refers to both the body and spirit, and the address
is to Zakariyya, who is composed of both a body and spirit. 15

Further evidence for this position has been deduced from descriptions in
the texts of the Qur'an and ~adtth of the spirit in terms of dying, being
held, snatched and released. These are all qualities of created things. 16 Allah
states:

"Every soul [nafs] will taste death ... "

Qur'an, 3:185, 21:35 as 29:57

"It is Allah that takes the souls [anfus] at death, and those
that do not die He takes during their sleep. Those on
whom He has passed the decree of death, He holds back
[from returning to this life], and the rest He releases [back
to their bodies] for an appointed term.
Qur'an, 39:42

Umm Salamah reported that Allah's Messenger(~) came when her husband,
Abu Salamah, died and found his eyes open in a fixed stare. He closed them
and said,

"Sharb al-'Aqtdah al-Tabiiwiyyah, pp. 391-392.

"Ibid., p. 392.

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