Common questions asked by Christian missionaries against Islam
Q4. Jesus is "a word"
of Allah and a "spirit" from Allah?
Question
Does
not your Qur’an mention that Jesus is Kalimatullah – “The Word of Allah
(swt)”, as well as Ruhullah – “The Spirit of Allah”, indicating his
Divinity?
JESUS IS “A WORD” OF ALLAH AND A “SPIRIT” FROM ALLAH
Answer
1. JESUS (PBUH) “IS A WORD FROM ALLAH” NOT “THE WORD OF ALLAH”
The Qur’an mentions in Surah Ali ‘Imran Chapter 3 verse 45
“Behold!
The angels said: O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his
name will be Christ Jesus. The son of Mary, held in honour in this world and
the Hereafter and of (the company of) those Nearest to Allah.
[Al-Qur’an 3:45]
Jesus (pbuh) is referred in the Qur’an as a word from Allah and not as ‘the word of Allah’.
“A
word” of Allah means a message of Allah. If a person is referred to as “a word”
from Allah, it means that he is a Messenger or a Prophet of Allah.
- THE TITLE OF A PROPHET (PBUH) DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT EXCLUSIVELY BELONGS TO THAT PROPHET (PBUH)
Different
titles are given to different prophets (pbuh). Whenever a title is given to a prophet
(pbuh), it does not necessarily mean that the other prophets do not have the
same characteristic or quality. For e.g. Prophet Abraham (pbuh) is referred to
in the Qur’an as Khaleelullah, a friend of Allah. This does not indicate
that all the other Prophets (pbuh) were not the friends of Allah. Prophet Moses
(pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Kaleemullah, indicating that God
spoke to him. This does not mean that God did not speak to others. Similarly
when Jesus (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Kalimatullah, “a word
from Allah”, it does not mean that the other Prophets were not “the word,” of Allah.
- JOHN THE BAPTIST (PBUH) IS ALSO CALLED “A WORD” OF ALLAH
Yahya
(pbuh) i.e. John the Baptist (pbuh) is also referred to in the Qur’an as Kalimatullah
i.e. a word of Allah in Surah Ali ‘Imran, Chapter 3, verses 38-39
“There did Zakariya Pray to his Lord, saying: “O my Lord! Grant unto me from Thee a progeny that is pure: for Thou art He that heareth prayer!
While
he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: “Allah doth
give thee glad tidings of Yahya, witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah,
and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a Prophet – of the (goodly) company of the righteous.”
[Al-Qur’an 3:39]
- JESUS (PBUH) REFERRED AS RUHULLAH – A SPIRIT OF ALLAH
Jesus
(pbuh) also never referred to as Ruhullah “a spirit of Allah” but as a spirit
from Allah in Surah Nisa Chapter 4 verse 171
“O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Jesus Christ the son of Mary was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah, And His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not ‘Trinity’: desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is One God: glory be to Him: (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.”
[Al-Qur’an 4:171]
- SPIRIT OF ALLAH IS BREATHED IN EVERY HUMAN BEING
A
spirit from Allah does not indicate that Jesus (pbuh) is God. The Qur’an
mentions in several places that Allah breathed into the human beings “His
Spirit” in Surah Al-Hijr, chapter 15 verse 29 in Surah Sajdah, chapter 32 verse
9,
Surah Al Hijr Chapter 15 verse 29
“When I
have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall
ye down in obeisance unto him.”
[Al-Qur’an 15:29]
Surah
Sajdah Chapter 32 verse 9
“But He
fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit.
And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding):
little thanks do ye give!”
[Al-Qur’an 32:9]
