By: M. Nader
The Holy Spirit has been mentioned in the
Quran several times and many questions have been raised about the
identity of the Holy Spirit in the Quran. Many of the questions come from
our Christian brothers and sisters who wonder if the Holy Spirit in the Quran
is the third of their Trinity beliefs.
Quran is very clear in denouncing Trinity (5:73) and affirming the
Oneness of God Almighty. (112:1-4). The Holy Spirit in the Quran is
clearly defined as the angel Gabriel who has been the angel-messenger between
The Almighty God and the human beings, e.g. Mary, Jesus, and prophet Muhammed.
In reference to Gabriel, the Arabic Quran calls him; "Ruhhil-Qudus"
(Holy Spirit),
"Ruuhanaa" (Our Spirit), "Ruuhul-'Amiin" (The Honest Spirit) and "Al-Ruh'
" (The Spirit) . Thus, when reading the verses in the
Quran, the whole Quran, we see that Gabriel is the Holy and
Honest Bearer of Revelations. We learn from 2:97 that these references are
indeed talking about Gabriel.
[2:97] Say, "Anyone who opposes Gabriel should know that he has
brought
down this (Quran) into your heart, in accordance with GOD's will, confirming
previous scriptures, and providing guidance and good news for the
believers."
To understand the connection between the Angel Gabriel
and calling him the Spirit, the Holy Spirit and
the Honest Spirit in the Quran we should also read all related
verses, 16:102 & 26:192-193.
[16:102] Say, "The Holy Spirit has brought it (Quran)
down from your Lord, truthfully, to assure those who believe, and to provide
a beacon and good news for the submitters."
[26:192] This (Quran) is a revelation from the Lord of the
universe.
[26:193] The Honest Spirit (Gabriel) came down with
it.
Thus, the following verses from the Quran are also talking about Gabriel.
[2:87] We gave Moses the scripture, and subsequent to him we sent other
messengers, and we gave Jesus, son of Mary, profound miracles and supported
him with the Holy Spirit. Is it not a fact that every time a messenger
went to you with anything you disliked, your ego caused you to be arrogant?
Some of them you rejected, and some of them you killed.
[2:253] These messengers; we blessed some of them more than others.
For
example, GOD spoke to one, and we raised some of them to higher ranks.
And we gave Jesus, son of Mary, profound miracles and supported him
with the Holy Spirit.
[5:110] GOD will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessings
upon
you and your mother. I supported you with the Holy Spirit, to enable
you
to speak to the people from the crib, as well as an adult. I taught you the
scripture, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel.
[19:17-19] While a barrier separated her from them, we sent to her
our Spirit.
He went to her in the form of a human being. She said, "I seek refuge in
the Most Gracious, that you may be righteous." He said, "I am the messenger
of your Lord, to grant you a pure son."
[78:38] The day will come when the Spirit and the angels will
stand in a row.
None will speak except those permitted by the Most Gracious, and they
will utter only what is right.
[97:4] The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by their
Lord's leave, to
carry out every command.
It is interesting that God chose to mention the " Spirit and the angels"
in these last two verses . In the Arabic language
it is not unusual to specify part of a whole group to emphasize
the significance of that part. Quran has many examples like these, e.g..
in
55:68 God talks about fruits, dates and pomegranate to emphasize the last
two kinds of fruits.
[55:68] In them are fruits, date palms, and pomegranate.
In 2:238 God talks about Salat and the middle salat to emphasize its significance
of the middle salat.
It is also interesting to know that the name " Gabriel" in Arabic
(Gbryl) has the same gematrical value of the word "Al-Ruh' "
(the Spirit), both being 245. G=3 , B=2, R=200, Y=10 and L=30,
therefore 3+2+200+10+30 = 245. While the word Al-Ruh' (The spirit) has ,
A=1, L=30, R=200, U (waw)= 6 , H'=8, therefore 1+30+200+6+8 = 245
We should also know that the Arabic word "Roh" has been
used in the Quran to mean the "revelation from God" as in 16:2, 17:85
and 40:15 and also to mean the soul in many other verses, e.g. 21:91,
66:12, 15:29, 38:72....etc
In conclusion, the "Holy Spirit" in the Quran refers to the angle Gabriel
and has nothing to do with Trinity or part of a Trinity. Trinity is
denounced in the strongest language in the Quran.
Related Issues
(1) Jesus,
a Quranic perspective.
(2)
JESUS; MYTHS &
MESSAGE: (unzipped file) A book by Lisa Spray.
JESUS; MYTHS
& MESSAGE: (zipped file)
(3)
A comparison of the book
of JAMES and the QURAN.
(4) Selected readings from
:Islam
in the Bible
, By Thomas
McElwain.
(5) Our One
and Only Savior,
according to Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Submission.)
(6)
The ten
commandments in the Quran
(7) Jesus or
the Church.
(8)
Befriending the
Christians and Jews according to the Quran.
(9)
God
in the Bible Vs the Qur'an
(10)
Did Jesus deny being
God?
(11) Is Jesus the unique son of God
?
(12) Did Jesus say "Only Begotten"
.?
(13)
The
answers to claims of contradictions in the Quran.
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