Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:85

The majority hold that it is the soul (al-rūḥ) which is in the living being. They asked him about its reality, so he informed them that it is "of the command of my Lord," meaning: from that which He has kept exclusively to His own knowledge. It is narrated from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Buraydah: "The Prophet (ﷺ) passed away, and he did not know the soul."

It is also said: It is a great spiritual creation, greater than the angels. It is said: It is Gabriel (peace be upon him). It is said: It is the Qur’an, and "of the command of my Lord" means from His revelation and His speech, not from the speech of humans.

The Jews sent word to the Quraysh: "Ask him about the Companions of the Cave, about Dhu al-Qarnayn, and about the soul. If he answers them all or remains silent on all, he is not a prophet. If he answers some and remains silent on others, he is a prophet." He explained the two stories to them but kept the matter of the soul vague, just as it is vague in the Torah. They regretted their questioning.

"And you have not been given..." The address is general.

It is narrated that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said this to them, they asked: "Are we specifically addressed by this, or are you included with us?" He replied: "Rather, we and you have not been given of knowledge except a little." They said: "How strange your affair is! At one time you say, 'And whoever is given wisdom has certainly been given much good' (Al-Baqarah: 269), and at another time you say this." Then, "And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens..." (Luqman: 27) was revealed.

What they said does not necessarily follow, because "little" and "much" revolve around comparison. A thing is described as little when compared to what is above it, and as much when compared to what is below it. The wisdom granted to a servant is "much good" in itself, but when compared to the knowledge of Allah, it is little.

It is also said: It is an address specifically to the Jews, because they said to the Prophet (ﷺ): "We have been given the Torah, and in it is wisdom, and you have recited, 'And whoever is given wisdom has certainly been given much good'." So it was said to them: "The knowledge of the Torah is little alongside the knowledge of Allah."

"And if We willed, We could surely take away that which We revealed to you, then you would not find for yourself therein an advocate against Us. Except [by] mercy from your Lord. Indeed, His favor upon you has ever been great."