concept

Pure Spirit

رُوحُ الْقُدُس

The Pure Spirit, known in Arabic as *Rūḥ al-Qudus*, is a profound concept in Islam, most commonly understood as the noble Archangel Gabriel. This blessed entity plays a pivotal role in divine communication and support for Allah's chosen messengers. In particular, the Quran speaks of how [Allah supported Jesus, the son of Mary, with the Pure Spirit], enabling him to perform miracles and speak with wisdom from infancy, as described when [Allah reminded Jesus of His favor, saying "I supported you with the Pure Spirit"]. Beyond supporting Jesus, the Pure Spirit is also the trusted bringer of divine revelation. It is he who [brought down the Quran from your Lord in truth] to Prophet Muhammad, strengthening the hearts of believers and serving as guidance and good tidings for all Muslims. The Pure Spirit thus embodies Allah's ongoing aid, His perfect preservation of His message, and His unwavering support for His prophets throughout history, making it a symbol of divine mercy and truth in Islamic tradition.

Quran 4 verses

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ بِٱلرُّسُلِ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰٓ أَنفُسُكُمُ ٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ

Wa laqad aatainaa Moosal Kitaaba wa qaffainaa mim ba'dihee bir Rusuli wa aatainaa 'Eesab-na-Maryamal baiyinaati wa ayyadnaahu bi Roohil Qudus; afakullamaa jaaa'akum Rasoolum bimaa laa tahwaaa anfusukumus takbartum fafareeqan kazzabtum wa fareeqan taqtuloon

And We did certainly give Moses the Torah and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.

اور ہم نے موسیٰ کو کتاب عنایت کی اور ان کے پیچھے یکے بعد دیگرے پیغمبر بھیجتے رہے اور عیسیٰ بن مریم کو کھلے نشانات بخشے اور روح القدس (یعنی جبرئیل) سے ان کو مدد دی۔تو جب کوئی پیغمبر تمہارے پاس ایسی باتیں لے کر آئے، جن کو تمہارا جی نہیں چاہتا تھا، تو تم سرکش ہو جاتے رہے، اور ایک گروہ (انبیاء) کو تو جھٹلاتے رہے اور ایک گروہ کو قتل کرتے رہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The Qur'an again reminds the Israelites how Allah in His mercy forgave them their transgressions again and again, and provided them with all the means of guidance. First of all, He gave them a Divine Book, the Torah, through Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) (Moses); then, sent them a number of prophets; ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We gave Moses the Scripture the Torah and after him We sent successive messengers that is We sent them one after another and We gave Jesus son of Mary the clear proofs that is the miracles of bringing the dead back to life and healing the blind and the leper and We confirmed him We strengthened ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Arrogance of the Jews who denied and killed Their Prophets Allah described the insolence of Children of Israel, their rebelliousness, defiance and arrogance towards the Prophets, following their lusts and desires. Allah mentioned that He gave Musa the Book, the Tawrah, and that the Jews changed,...

تِلْكَ ٱلرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَٰتٍ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتُ وَلَٰكِنِ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن كَفَرَ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ

Tilkar Rusulu faddalnaa ba'dahum 'alaa ba'd; minhum man kallamal laahu wa rafa'a ba'dahum darajaat; wa aatainaa 'Eesab na Maryamal baiyinaati wa ayyadnaahu bi Roohil Qudus; wa law shaaa'al laahu maqtatalal lazeena mimba'dihim mim ba'di maa jaaa'athumul baiyinaatu wa laakinikh talafoo faminhum man aamana wa minhum man kafar; wa law shaaa'al laahu maq tataloo wa laakinnallaaha yaf'alu maa yureed (

Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the Son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Pure Spirit. If Allah had willed, those [generations] succeeding them would not have fought each other after the clear proofs had come to them. But they differed, and some of them believed and some of them disbelieved. And if Allah had willed, they would not have fought each other, but Allah does what He intends.

یہ پیغمبر (جو ہم وقتاً فوقتاً بھیجتے رہیں ہیں) ان میں سے ہم نے بعض کو بعض پر فضیلت دی ہے۔ بعض ایسے ہیں جن سے خدا نے گفتگو فرمائی اور بعض کے (دوسرے امور میں) مرتبے بلند کئے۔ اور عیسیٰ بن مریم کو ہم نے کھلی ہوئی نشانیاں عطا کیں اور روح القدس سے ان کو مدد دی۔ اور اگر خداچاہتا تو ان سے پچھلے لوگ اپنے پاس کھلی نشانیاں آنے کے بعد آپس میں نہ لڑتے لیکن انہوں نے اختلاف کیا تو ان میں سے بعض تو ایمان لے آئے اور بعض کافر ہی رہے۔ اور اگر خدا چاہتا تو یہ لوگ باہم جنگ و قتال نہ کرتے۔ لیکن خدا جو چاہتا ہے کرتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary 1. In Verse 253, beginning with تِلْكَ الرُّ‌سُلُ ('those are the Messenger’), the purpose is to give solace and comfort to the noble Prophet ﷺ since the deniers refused to recognize his prophethood, inspite of the fact that it was conclusively proved, as has been stated in the verse 252:...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Those tilka is the subject messengers al-rusul is either an adjective or the predicate some We have preferred above others by assigning a particular trait to one not found in the other; some there are to whom God spoke such as Moses and some He raised in rank namely Muhammad (s) on account of his ca...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah Honored Some Prophets Above Others Allah states that He has honored some Prophets to others. For instance, Allah said, وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا (And indeed, We have preferred some of the Prophets above others, and to Dawud We gave the...

إِذْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَٰعِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ ٱلطِّينِ كَهَيْـَٔةِ ٱلطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِى فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًۢا بِإِذْنِى وَتُبْرِئُ ٱلْأَكْمَهَ وَٱلْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِى وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِى وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَنكَ إِذْ جِئْتَهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

Iz qaalal laahu yaa 'Eesab-na-Maryamaz kur ni'matee 'alaika wa 'alaa waalidatik; iz aiyattuka bi Roohil Qudusi tukallimun naasa fil mahdi wa kahlanw wa iz 'allamtukal kitaaba wal Hikmata wa Tawraata wal Injeela wa iz Takhluqu minat teeni kahai 'atit tairi bi iznee fatanfukhu feeha fatakoonu tairam bi iznee wa tubri'ul akmaha wal abrasa bi iznee wa iz tukhrijul mawtaa bi iznee wa iz kafaftu Baneee Israaa'eela 'anka iz ji'tahum bil baiyinaati fa qaalal lazeena kafaroo minhum in haazaaa illaa sihrum mubeen

[The Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, "This is not but obvious magic."

جب خدا (عیسیٰ سے) فرمائے گا کہ اے عیسیٰ بن مریم! میرے ان احسانوں کو یاد کرو جو میں نے تم پر اور تمہاری والدہ پر کئے جب میں نے روح القدس (یعنی جبرئیل) سے تمہاری مدد کی تم جھولے میں اور جوان ہو کر (ایک ہی نسق پر) لوگوں سے گفتگو کرتے تھے اور جب میں نے تم کو کتاب اور دانائی اور تورات اور انجیل سکھائی اور جب تم میرے حکم سے مٹی کا جانور بنا کر اس میں پھونک مار دیتے تھے تو وہ میرے حکم سے اڑنے لگتا تھا اور مادر زاد اندھے اور سفید داغ والے کو میرے حکم سے چنگا کر دیتے تھے اور مردے کو میرے حکم سے (زندہ کرکے قبر سے) نکال کھڑا کرتے تھے اور جب میں نے بنی اسرائیل (کے ہاتھوں) کو تم سے روک دیا جب تم ان کے پاس کھلے نشان لے کر آئے تو جو ان میں سے کافر تھے کہنے لگے کہ یہ صریح جادو ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: A Particular Question Asked from Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) The first verse (109) referred to prophets in general where a question was asked and its reply was given. In the second verse (100), and after that, in all the nine verses appearing through the end of the Surah, the text talks about Sayyi...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Mention when God said ‘O Jesus son of Mary remember My favour to you and to your mother be thankful for it; when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit Gabriel to speak to people tukallimu’l-nāsa is a circumstantial qualifier referring to the suffixed pronoun kāf in ayyadtu-ka in the cradle that is...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Reminding `Isa of the Favors that Allah Granted him Allah mentions how He blessed His servant and Messenger, `Isa, son of Maryam, and the miracles and extraordinary acts He granted him. Allah said, اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكَ (Remember My favor to you) when I created you from your mother, without mal...

قُلْ نَزَّلَهُۥ رُوحُ ٱلْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ

Qul nazzalahoo Roohul Qudusi mir Rabbika bilhaqqi liyusabbital lazeena aamanoo wa hudanw wa bushraa lilmuslimeen

Say, [O Muhammad], "The Pure Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."

کہہ دو کہ اس کو روح القدس تمہارے پروردگار کی طرف سے سچائی کے ساتھ لے کر نازل ہوئے ہیں تاکہ یہ (قرآن) مومنوں کو ثابت قدم رکھے اور حکم ماننے والوں کے لئے تو (یہ) ہدایت اور بشارت ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Sequence of Verses In the previous verse (98), there was an instruction to say اَعُوذ بِاللہ 'a udhu bil-lah' (I seek protection with Allah) while reciting the Qur’ an which indicates that the Shaitan puts scruples in the heart when one recites the Qur'an. In the verses cited above, there is a refut...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Say to them ‘The Holy Spirit Gabriel has revealed it from your Lord with truth bi’l-haqq this is semantically connected to nazzala ‘he Gabriel has revealed it’ to confirm the faith of those who believe by their believing in it when it is revealed and as guidance and good tidings for those who have s...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Idolators' Accusation that the Prophet was a Liar since some Ayat were abrogated, and the Refutation of their Claim Allah tells us of the weak minds of the idolators, and their lack of faith and conviction. He explains that it is impossible for them to have faith when He has decreed that they ar...

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