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Answers: Al-Baqarah 2:253

۞ تلك الرسل فضلنا بعضهم على بعض منهم من كلم الله ورفع بعضهم درجات واتينا عيسى ابن مريم البينات وايدناه بروح القدس ولو شاء الله ما اقتتل الذين من بعدهم من بعد ما جاءتهم البينات ولاكن اختلفوا فمنهم من امن ومنهم من كفر ولو شاء الله ما اقتتلوا ولاكن الله يفعل ما يريد ٢٥٣

۞ تِلْكَ ٱلرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ ۘ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٍۢ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن كَفَرَ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ ٢٥٣

۞ تِلۡكَ

ٱلرُّسُلُ

فَضَّلۡنَا

بَعۡضَهُمۡ

عَلَىٰ

بَعۡضٖۘ

مِّنۡهُم

مَّن

كَلَّمَ

ٱللَّهُۖ

وَرَفَعَ

بَعۡضَهُمۡ

دَرَجَٰتٖۚ

وَءَاتَيۡنَا

عِيسَى

ٱبۡنَ

مَرۡيَمَ

ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ

وَأَيَّدۡنَٰهُ

بِرُوحِ

ٱلۡقُدُسِۗ

وَلَوۡ

شَآءَ

ٱللَّهُ

مَا

ٱقۡتَتَلَ

ٱلَّذِينَ

مِنۢ

بَعۡدِهِم

مِّنۢ

بَعۡدِ

مَا

جَآءَتۡهُمُ

ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتُ

وَلَٰكِنِ

ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ

فَمِنۡهُم

مَّنۡ

ءَامَنَ

وَمِنۡهُم

مَّن

كَفَرَۚ

وَلَوۡ

شَآءَ

ٱللَّهُ

مَا

ٱقۡتَتَلُواْ

وَلَٰكِنَّ

ٱللَّهَ

يَفۡعَلُ

مَا

يُرِيدُ

٢٥٣

We have chosen some of those messengers above others.¹ Allah spoke directly to some, and raised some high in rank. To Jesus, son of Mary, We gave clear proofs and supported him with the holy spirit.² If Allah had willed, succeeding generations would not have fought ˹among themselves˺ after receiving the clear proofs. But they differed—some believed while others disbelieved. Yet if Allah had willed, they would not have fought one another. But Allah does what He wills.

Tafsirs

Layers

Lessons

Reflections

Answers

Qira'at

Hadith

Is the ‘Holy Spirit’ in this verse anything to do with belief in ‘Trinity’?

Clarification

Answer

The reference in this verse (see also 2:87, 5:110) is to the Angel Gabriel, as becomes clear from 16:102, which affirms that this same Holy Spirit (Ruh al-Qudus) brings the revelation to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (cf. 2:97, 26:192-195). Gabriel is also referred to as a ‘Spirit’ in other verses (e.g. 19:17, 26:193).

The repeated use of this designation in verses speaking of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) is likely intended to correct misconceptions around this name and concept, as Jesus was indeed supported by the angelic spirit sent by the One God. The Quran invites people back to the purest conception of monotheism, and recognizing both the Angel and the Prophet as God’s honored servants.

Summary

The Holy Spirit with which God supported Jesus was the Angel Gabriel.

References

Ibn ‘Ashur, Al-Tahrir wa ‘l-Tanwir
Ibn ‘Atiyyah, al-Muharrar al-Wajiz
Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-Azim
Al-Shinqiti, Adwa’ al-Bayan