“Do Muslims believe in the Holy Spirit?” is a question, many Muslims as well as Christians might be interested to know. You see, there are so many similarities in Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) and minimal dissimilarities, we often get curious about other Abrahamic religions and their features that are common to us.
Jews believe in Torah, Christians believe in the Gospels and Muslims believe in all three: Torah, Gospels and Quran because they are all heavenly books. Muslims believe that God had previously revealed Himself to the earlier prophets such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims, therefore, accept the teachings of both the Jewish Torah and the Christian Gospels. Its just the fact that Muslims believe that the Gospels/ Bible has been corrupted over time with many modifications and versions. Christians believe in the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
So, do Muslims believe in the Holy Spirit?
Yes, Muslims do believe in the Holy Spirit, but not like how Christians do. In Islamic theology, the Holy Spirit is known as “Ruh al-Qudus” or “Ruh al-Amin” and is considered one of the important beings in the Islamic faith.
Islamic scholars assert that the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Quran is actually the archangel Gabriel, or Jibril as he is known in Arabic. Some Muslims contend that even the Christian Bible has been distorted and that the Holy Spirit was meant to be another title for God’s messenger Gabriel in the Gospels, just as in the case of Jesus.
According to Islamic belief, the Holy Spirit (Jibril A.S.) is a creation of Allah (God) and is responsible for conveying Allah’s message to the prophets.
Muslims do not believe in the Holy Spirit in the same way as Christians do, however. Muslims reject the concept of the Holy Trinity, which holds that God is one in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). In Islam, God is considered one, indivisible, and without partners or associates.
Mention of the Holy Spirit (Ruh al-Qudus) in the Quran
The Quran mentions the Holy Spirit (Ruh al-Qudus/ Gabriel) several times, such as in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:87), where it is stated that the Holy Spirit helped Prophet Isa (Jesus) perform miracles,
“And We gave ‘Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), clear signs and supported him with Ruh-ul-Qudus [Jibril (Gabriel).] [Surah al-Baqarah 2:87]
and in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:110), where it is stated that the Holy Spirit gave Prophet Isa the ability to speak in infancy.
“O ‘Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Remember My Favour to you and to your mother when I supported you with Ruh ul Qudus [Jibril (Gabriel)]…” [Surah al-Maidah 5:110]
“Those Messengers! We preferred some of them to others; to some of them Allâh spoke (directly); others He raised to degrees (of honour); and to ‘Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), We gave clear proofs and evidences, and supported him with Ruh ul Qudus [Jibril (Gabriel)]” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:253]
Christians contend that the “Holy Spirit” resided in the Disciples and that all the Prophets had an encounter with the “Holy Spirit.” However, Allah states in Surah al-Nahl (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad) Ruh ul Qudus [Jibril (Gabriel)] has brought it (the Quran) down from your Lord with truth, that it may make firm and strengthen (the faith of) those who believe, and as a guidance and glad tidings to those who have submitted (to Allah as Muslims).” [Surah al-Nahl 16:102]
“Whoever is an enemy to Jibril (Gabriel) (let him die in his fury), for indeed he has brought it (this Quran) down to your heart.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:97]
“Which the trustworthy Ruh [Jibril (Gabriel)] has brought down upon your heart (O Muhammad).” [al-Shu’ara’ 26:193]
Conclusion:
Ruh al-Qudus is obviously referring to Jibril in these verses. Ruh al-Qudus is never used in the sense that it denotes Allah’s life. so indeed, the Holy Spirit is Angel Gabriel (Jibril A.S.). And Yes, Muslims do believe in the Holy Spirit, Gabriel. And Allah knows Best. Read more Islamic Blogs or Follow us on social media for daily Islamic reminders.
