Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (3/195)

The Quran itself bears witness that Allah supported the Messiah with the Holy Spirit, as He—exalted is He—says: “We gave Jesus, son of Mary, the clear proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.” ⦗Quran 2:87⦘—a declaration that appears in two places of Sūrat al-Baqarah.

He also says: “Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit.” ⦗Quran 5:110⦘

The Prophet—may blessings and peace be upon him—said to Ḥassān ibn Thābit: “The Holy Spirit is with you so long as you champion His Prophet,” and he prayed, “O Allah, support him with the Holy Spirit.” These reports have already been set out in detail.

As for the expression “Holy Spirit,” it may refer to the sanctified angel—Gabriel—or to revelation itself, that is, the guidance and divine aid that Allah sends down through the angel or without any intermediary. The two meanings can accompany one another: the angel descends with the revelation, and the revelation is brought down by the angel. Allah, exalted is He, supports His messengers both with angels and with guidance, as He says about His Prophet Muḥammad—may blessings and peace be upon him: “Allah sent His tranquility down upon him and reinforced him with hosts you did not see.” ⦗Quran 9:40⦘

وَالْقُرْآنُ قَدْ شَهِدَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَيَّدَ الْمَسِيحَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ، كَمَا قَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {وَآتَيْنَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَيَّدْنَاهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ} [البقرة: ٨٧] . فِي مَوْضِعَيْنِ مِنَ الْبَقَرَةِ. وَقَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {يَاعِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ اذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَعَلى وَالِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدْتُكَ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ} [المائدة: ١١٠] . وَقَدْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - لِحَسَّانِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ: «إِنَّ رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ مَعَكَ مَا دُمْتَ تُنَافِحُ عَنْ نَبِيِّهِ» وَقَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ أَيِّدْهُ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ» كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ ذِكْرُهُ هَذَا كُلُّهُ مَبْسُوطًا. وَرُوحُ الْقُدُسِ: قَدْ يُرَادُ بِهَا الْمَلَكُ الْمُقَدَّسُ كَجِبْرِيلَ، وَيُرَادُ بِهَا الْوَحْيُ، وَالْهُدَى وَالتَّأْيِيدُ الَّذِي يُنْزِلُهُ اللَّهُ بِوَاسِطَةِ الْمَلَكِ أَوْ بِغَيْرِ وَاسِطَتِهِ، وَقَدْ يَكُونَانِ مُتَلَازِمَيْنِ، فَإِنَّ الْمَلَكَ يَنْزِلُ بِالْوَحْيِ، وَالْوَحْيُ يَنْزِلُ بِهِ الْمَلَكُ، وَاللَّهُ - تَعَالَى - يُؤَيِّدُ رُسُلَهُ بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَبِالْهُدَى، كَمَا قَالَ - تَعَالَى -: عَنْ نَبِيِّهِ مُحَمَّدٍ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -: {فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَمْ تَرَوْهَا} [التوبة: ٤٠] .