Section: Clarifying the meaning of the Holy Spirit and rebutting the Christians’ claim to his divinity

Concerning the Almighty’s words, “We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit” (Q 2:87), this is a fact exactly as Allah has declared. Allah—exalted is He—mentions His support of Jesus, son of Mary, with the Holy Spirit in several places. He says in Sūrat al-Baqarah: “We certainly gave Moses the Scripture and caused messengers to follow him in succession; and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit” (Q 2:87). He also says: “Those messengers—We favored some above others. Among them are those to whom Allah spoke directly, and He raised some in rank. And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had Allah willed, those who came after them would not have fought one another after the clear proofs had come to them, but they differed: some believed and others disbelieved. Had Allah willed, they would not have fought, but Allah does whatever He wills” (Q 2:253). And He, the Most High, says: “Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother: I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit so that you spoke to people in the cradle and in maturity; I taught you the Book, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel; you fashioned from clay the shape of a bird by My permission, then breathed into it and it became a bird by My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper by My permission” (Q 5:110).