We are closer to him than his jugular vein

And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein

[Qur'aan 50:16]

Imaam al-Tabari says that the scholars of the Arabic language have differed in regards to the meaning of the portion of the Verse which reads:

"and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein"

وقال آخرون: بل معنى ذلك ( وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ ) بالعلم بما تُوَسْوس به نفسه

A group has said that the meaning of that ("and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein") is by means knowledge of that which his soul whispers to him