Section: Clarifying the Correct Meaning of “the Spirit of God”

They say, “And He also said—on the tongue of Job, the Upright—‘The Spirit of God created me and is teaching me.’”

The reply: This affords you no proof, for you have alleged that the prophets called God’s life “the Holy Spirit,” whereas this statement does not say “the Holy Spirit”; it says only “the Spirit of God.”

Now, “the Spirit of God” refers to the angel who is himself a spirit—one whom God chose and loved. God says in the Qur’an:

“We sent to her Our Spirit, and he appeared to her as a well-proportioned man” (Maryam 17) (17)

“She said, ‘I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, if you are God-fearing’” (Maryam 18) (18)

“He said, ‘I am only a messenger of your Lord to grant you a pure son’” (Maryam 19) (19)

Thus God informed us that He sent to her His Spirit, who assumed the form of a flawless human being, and it became clear that he was His messenger. Therefore “the spirit” here is an angel—a spirit whom God selected and, on that account, attributed to Himself—just as He attributes to Himself particular created entities distinguished by qualities He loves. So He says,

“Beware of harming God’s she-camel or obstructing her watering” (ash-Shams 13),

and He says,

“Purify My House for those who circumambulate, stand, bow, and prostrate” (al-Ḥajj 26).