What is the Soul?

 *What is the Soul?*

The soul is something which we neither see nor understand, yet we believe in it for we see its effects. The soul is one of the greatest proofs of the existence of our Rubb (I). It also serves as a refutation of the materialists who always desire tangible evidence so that they may perceive with their senses, for they believe in the soul although they cannot perceive it with their senses, rather through its effects. The soul is one of the heavenly secrets. No one knows its true reality except Allah, and any attempt to investigate it is futile. Allah (I) says:

(And they ask you (O Muhammad) about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair [i.e. concern] of my Rubb. And you [i.e. mankind] have not been given of knowledge except a little.) [17:85]

Ar-Raaghib al-Asfahaani, said: 

'(The spirit) is with what a body would come to life, move about, sense his surroundings, gain knowledge and hold certain opinions, and be able to discern (between good and

evil). If a person loses this, he would not possess any of these traits, and would become a carcass that needs to be carried… It is that which the spiritual characteristics are

attached to just as physical characteristics are attached to the body”

In this stage (mudghah) the bones are formed and then clothed with flesh. Allah (I) says:

(We made out of that little lump of flesh bones, and then We clothed the bones with flesh.) [23:14]

Allah (I) also says this when narrating the story of ‘Azeez:

(Look at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh.) [2:259]

The fetus continues to develop until the time which Allah (I) prescribed comes to pass and it emerges out into this world. Allah (I) says: 

((The learned men) refer to Him (Alone) the knowledge of the Hour. No fruit comes out of its sheath nor does a female conceive nor brings forth (young), except by His

Knowledge.) [41:47]

Allah (I) says:

(And indeed We created man [Adam] out of an extract of clay [water and earth]. * Thereafter We made him [the offspring of Adam] as a Nutfah [mixed drops of the male

and female sexual discharge] (and lodged it) in a safe lodging [the womb of the woman]. * Then We made the Nutfah into a clot [a piece of thick coagulated blood], then

We made the clot into a little lump of flesh, then We made out of that little lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought it forth as another

creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators. * After that, surely, you will die. * Then (again), surely, you will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection.) [23:12-16]

In his book, “The Developing Human”, Professor Keith Moore said:

"It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, or Allah, because most of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later.

This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God, or Allah." He further said:

"I have no difficulty in my mind reconciling that this is a divine inspiration or revelation, which led him to these statements."