The Scholar Abu al-Hussein Ahmad ibn Jabalah al-Ghassani—Allah sanctified him—said in his Questions [Masa'il]: The Master the Mīm—His glory is mighty—said: "The most cognizant of you concerning his own soul is the most cognizant of you concerning his Lord."

Thus, you say to the inquirer: Verily, His existence—meaning the Lord—is just as you find your own soul despite its weakness. For it is neither outside of the body, nor inside of it; neither attached to it, nor detached from it. For if it were outside, there would be no distinction between death and life; if it were inside, the external physical limbs would become obsolete; if it were attached, then whenever a limb of the body is severed, a component part of the soul would diminish; and if it were detached, Zeyd would possess no greater right to it than 'Amr.

And Ibn al-Makzun—Allah sanctified his soul—said [in verse]:

If the soul were only capable of perception through physical instruments

It would encounter in sleep neither bliss nor misery;