to grant you another Paraclete who will remain with you forever;
In other renderings it says, “And the Paraclete is the Spirit of Truth whom my Father will send; he will teach you everything.” Thus Jesus made it clear that Allah is the One who sends him, while he himself will petition Allah to do so.
As for the wording found in some versions, “When I depart, I will send him to you,” its meaning is: I shall send him by asking my Father and requesting Him to dispatch him—just as a petitioner asks a ruler to send an emissary, appoint a deputy, or bestow a favor, and then says, “I sent this man, appointed that one, and granted this,” meaning that he was the cause of it.
One should realize that when Allah decrees a thing’s coming into being, He also ordains the means by which it will occur, and among those means is the supplication of a group of His servants for that very outcome. In answering those prayers He bestows grace upon this one, and that one, and the other.
The Friend, Abraham—peace be upon him—prayed for Muhammad to be sent, saying:
“Our Lord, raise up among them a messenger from their own who will recite to them Your revelations, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. Indeed, You are the Mighty, the Wise.” ⦗2:129⦘
Although Allah had already decreed his sending and had proclaimed his name beforehand, the Prophet was asked, “Messenger of Allah, when were you made a prophet?” He replied, “While Adam was between spirit and body,” and he said, “In Allah’s presence I was written down as the Seal of the Prophets while Adam was still lying in his clay.”