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Answers: Al-Baqarah 2:87

2:87
ولقد اتينا موسى الكتاب وقفينا من بعده بالرسل واتينا عيسى ابن مريم البينات وايدناه بروح القدس افكلما جاءكم رسول بما لا تهوى انفسكم استكبرتم ففريقا كذبتم وفريقا تقتلون ٨٧
وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ بِٱلرُّسُلِ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ۗ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰٓ أَنفُسُكُمُ ٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًۭا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًۭا تَقْتُلُونَ ٨٧
وَلَقَدۡ
ءَاتَيۡنَا
مُوسَى
ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ
وَقَفَّيۡنَا
مِنۢ
بَعۡدِهِۦ
بِٱلرُّسُلِۖ
وَءَاتَيۡنَا
عِيسَى
ٱبۡنَ
مَرۡيَمَ
ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتِ
وَأَيَّدۡنَٰهُ
بِرُوحِ
ٱلۡقُدُسِۗ
أَفَكُلَّمَا
جَآءَكُمۡ
رَسُولُۢ
بِمَا
لَا
تَهۡوَىٰٓ
أَنفُسُكُمُ
ٱسۡتَكۡبَرۡتُمۡ
فَفَرِيقٗا
كَذَّبۡتُمۡ
وَفَرِيقٗا
تَقۡتُلُونَ
٨٧
Indeed, We gave Moses the Book and sent after him successive messengers. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the holy spirit.1 Why is it that every time a messenger comes to you ˹Israelites˺ with something you do not like, you become arrogant, rejecting some and killing others?
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Is the ‘Holy Spirit’ in this verse anything to do with belief in ‘Trinity’?

Clarification

Answer

The reference in this verse (see also 2:253, 5:110) is to the Angel Gabriel, as becomes clear from (16:102)[https://quran.com/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