CHAPTER 2: THE HOLY SPIRIT
As for the Christian pretext drawn from the verse that says which means, “And We gave ‘Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), clear signs and supported him with Ruhul-Qudus (Jibril (Gabriel)).” (Al-Baqarah, 2; 87)
Allah, the Exalted, says the truth. Allah mentions His support to Christ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), with the Holy Spirit in several verses; for example, He says,
which means, “Those Messengers! We preferred some to others; to some of them Allah spoke (directly); others He raised to degrees (of honor); and to Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary). We gave clear proof and evidence, and supported him with Ruh-ul-Qudus (Jibril (Gabriel)).” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 253)
He, the Almighty also says,
which means, “O ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Remember My Favor to you and to your mother when I supported you with Ruh-ul-Qudus (Jibril (Gabriel)) so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity.” (Al-Ma’idah, 5: 110)
Allah, the Almighty says,
which means, “And when We change a Verse (of the Qur’an, i.e. cancel (abrogate) its order) in place of another, and Allah knows the best of what He sends down, they (the disbelievers) say: “You (O Muhammad) are but a Muftari (forger, liar)!” Nay, but most of them know not. Say (O Muhammad) Ruh-ul-Qudus [Jibril (Gabriel)] has brought it (the Qur’an) down from your Lord with truth.” (An-Nahl, 16: 101-102)
Allah, the Exalted, also says,
which means, “Which the trustworthy ROh (JibrT! (Gabriel)) has brought down; Upon your heart (O Muhammad) that you may be (one) of the warners.” (Ash-Shu’ara’, 26: 193- 194)
Thus, the Holy Spirit is the angel who descended with the Qur’an from Allah. It is the Trustworthy Spirit whose name is Jibril (Gabriel).
It is narrated in a hadith recorded by Muslim that ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated, “I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say to Hassan bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him), Verily, the Holy Spirit will remain supporting you as long as you are defending Allah and His Messenger.” (Recorded by Muslim, Fada’il As-Sahabah, hadith no. 2490, p. 157.)
This was Hassan bin Thabit, one of the believers, who defended Allah and His Messenger and satirized the disbelievers who believed the Messenger, so Allah supported him with the Holy Spirit, namely Jibril (Gabriel, peace be upon him).
Everyone is certain that Muhammad (peace be upon him) would not let the Divine Entity be united with the human entity of Hassan bin Thabit, thus the support of the Holy Spirit is not one of the unique characteristics of Christ. The people of the Scripture admit this fact, for many other prophets were supported with the Holy Spirit; like for example, Dawud (David, peace be upon him) and many others. They even say that the Disciples of Christ (Jesus) were supported by the Holy Spirit.
There is nothing in the Qur’an or in the Bible or any of the prophets’ books, which proves that the Holy Spirit is an attribute of God and His life nor that the Holy Spirit creates and grants provision. Thus, the Holy Spirit is neither God nor one of His attributes. Moreover, there is nothing in the words of the prophets to indicate that the dependent Attribute of God is called a son or a holy spirit.
The Christians falsely say that Christ said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” (Mathew: 28:19) meaning that the Son is His attribute which is knowledge and the Holy Spirit His attribute which is life. This is a manifest falsehood concerning Christ. There is nothing in his words or in the words of other prophets, which calls God or specifies one of His Attributes as being a son or makes His life a Holy Spirit.
Invented Monasticism
As for this verse where Allah says,
which means, “And We sent Isa (Jesus) – son of Maryam (Mary), and gave him the InjTI (Bible). And We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him, compassion and mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them, but (they sought it) only to please Allah therewith, but that they did not observe it with the right observance. So We gave those among them who believed, their (due) reward, but many of them are Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).” (Al-Hadid, 57:27)
Allah says the truth. The above verse does not praise monasticism or those who have altered the religion of Christ, but it praises the mercy and compassion that Ailah bestowed upon the hearts of those who followed htm. Allah says, “And We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him, compassion and mercy.” Then He says, “But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them..” Thus, Christians invented monasticism, which Allah did not prescribe for them.
Then Allah says, “But (they sought it) only to please Allah therewith.” What was ordained for them was only pleasing Allah through performing what He ordained not what was invented. This is something exclusive on their part. It can also be found in the following verse where Allah says,
which means, “They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture.” (An-Nisa’, 4:157)
And where Allah says,
which means, “They will never taste death therein except the first death (of this world).” (Ad-Dukhan, 44: 56)
And in the verse in which Allah says,
which means, “So We gave those among them who believed, their (due) reward.” (Al-Hadid, 57: 27)
They are those who believed in Muhammad (peace be upon him), but immediately after it He said,
which means, “But many of them are Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).” (Al-Hadid, 57: 27)
In any case, Allah, the Exalted, did not praise except those who followed Christ and his original religion, which had not been changed, and those who believed in Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He neither praised those who altered the religion of Christ nor those who refused to believe in Muhammad (peace be upon him).
By: Sheikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah
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