97.4 – The angels and the spirit come down during it

Throughout the Quran the meaning of the spirit (rūḥ) is uncertain. At 17.85 the Quran says, “They will ask you concerning the spirit.” But little information is given in response, and the subject of “the spirit” remains mysterious from its first appearance at 2.87 up to this final appearance in the canonical progression.

This verse says that “the spirit” comes together with the angels, implying that they are separate entities. On the four occurrences of “the holy spirit,” see the comment at 16.102. On the three occurrences of “the spirit of our command,” see the comment at 42.52. Among the remaining appearances of this word, 4.171 seems to say that ‘Īsā is “a spirit” from Allah. The spirit comes to Mary in a human form at 19.17, while at 21.91 and 66.12 Allah breathes into Mary “from our spirit.” The spirit is trustworthy or “true” at 26.193, and at 58.22 “a spirit from Allah” seems to affirm the denial of love to those who oppose Allah and his messenger.

The lack of a clear explanation of the spirit in the Quran – and its inconsistent use whenever it appears – contrasts with the Bible, which offers a wealth of information about the Holy Spirit of God. Islam’s eventual limiting of the spirit of God to an angel, namely Gabriel (see comment at 16.102), closes off a dimension of the human experience of God’s presence and power that both encourages people and helps them to do what pleases God.