Mary and Jesus in Islam

The Holy Spirit

Among the signs of the prophethood of Jesus is that he was assisted by the Holy Spirit. The Almighty has said, “We gave Jesus son of Mary clear arguments and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit” (Qur'an, 2:87); “Allah will say: O Jesus son of Mary! Remember My favor on you and on your mother when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit” (Qur'an, 5:110).

Scholars have differed regarding the Holy Spirit (al ruh al qudus). Al-Rabee` ibn Anas has said that it is the spirit that blew the breath of life into him, and that Allah attached it to His own Name as an act of honoring. The qudus is Allah Almighty according to the verse, “... and a spirit from Him” (Qur'an, 4:171), and also, “... so We breathed into her of Our ruh “ (Qur'an, 21:91). Other scholars have said that what is meant by the qudus is purity, hence al ruh al qudus means “the pure spirit.” Jesus is also called ruh,.

for the simple reason that he was not carried in men's loins, nor was he carried by the wombs of married women; rather, he was an order decreed by the Almighty. Al-Suddi says that al ruh al qudus, the Holy Spirit, is Gabriel, and that this phrase means: “supporting Jesus through Gabriel,” peace be upon both of them, since he was his companion, friend, and guard, walking with him wherever he walked till he ascended to heavens. Sa`eed ibn Jubayr and `Ubayd ibn `Umayr say that it is Allah's Greatest Name, and through it did he (Jesus) bring the dead back to life and perform those miracles to people.