Section: Clarifying the meaning of His words, “So We breathed into him of Our spirit”

They argue further: He also says in Sūrat al-Taḥrīm,

“And Mary, daughter of ʿImrān, who guarded her chastity—so We breathed into it of Our spirit, and she affirmed the words of her Lord and His scriptures, and she was among the devoutly obedient.” [At-Taḥrīm 66:12]

We reply: As for His statement, Exalted is He, “So We breathed into it of Our spirit” [At-Taḥrīm 66:12], and His statement in Sūrat al-Anbiyāʾ,

“And she who guarded her chastity—so We breathed into her of Our spirit, and We made her and her son a sign for all peoples.” [Al-Anbiyāʾ 21:91]

this is explained by His words, Exalted is He,

“Then We sent to her Our spirit, and he appeared before her as a well-proportioned man.” [Maryam 19:17] (17)

“She said, ‘Indeed, I seek refuge with the Most Merciful from you, if you are God-fearing.’” [Maryam 19:18] (18)

“He said, ‘I am only a messenger of your Lord to grant you a pure son.’” [Maryam 19:19]

In another reading: “that he may grant you a pure son.”

Thus He made it clear that he is His messenger and His spirit, that he manifested to her in human form, and that he declared that he