Is the Holy Spirit the Angel Gabriel in Islam?

In the Qur’an, the Pure Spirit who supported Jesus is identified as the angel Gabriel, and Ibn Kathir says Ruh Al-Qudus refers to Jibril. Luke 1 names Gabriel in one verse and the Holy Ghost in another. Acts 5:3–4Acts 5:3–4 · King James Version^5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ^5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.Acts 5:3–4 · King James VersionOpen the Source says a lie to the Holy Ghost is a lie to God. The Holy Spirit is God, not an angel.

Key Points

• Qur’an 2:87Qur’an 2:87 · Saheeh InternationalAnd We did certainly give Moses the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel]. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.Qur’an 2:87 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source (1), Saheeh International, says Allah supported Jesus with the Pure Spirit, and the translation glosses that as the angel Gabriel.
• Qur’an 16:102Qur’an 16:102 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O Muḥammad], "The Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."Qur’an 16:102 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source (3) says the Pure Spirit, glossed as Gabriel, brought the Qur’an down. Qur’an 26:193Qur’an 26:193 · Saheeh InternationalThe Trustworthy Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it downQur’an 26:193 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source (4) calls the one who brought it down the Trustworthy Spirit, glossed as Gabriel. Qur’an 2:97Qur’an 2:97 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel - it is [none but] he who has brought it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down upon your heart, [O Muḥammad], by permission of Allāh, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers."Qur’an 2:97 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source (2) names Gabriel as the one who brought it down upon Muhammad’s heart.
• Ibn Kathir, in the English abridgement on Qur’an 2:87Ibn Kathir on Qur’an 2:87 · Ibn Kathir (Abridged)Allah also aided him with Ruh Al-Qudus, and that refers to Jibril. All of these signs testified to the truthfulness of `Isa and what he was sent with.Ibn Kathir on Qur’an 2:87 · Ibn Kathir (Abridged)Open the Source (5), says Allah aided Jesus with Ruh Al-Qudus, and that refers to Jibril.
• Sahih al-Bukhari 6152Sahih al-Bukhari 6152 · Muhammad Muhsin KhanNarrated Abu Salama bin `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf: that he heard Hassan bin Thabit Al-Ansari asking the witness of Abu Huraira, saying, "O Abu- Huraira! I beseech you by Allah (to tell me). Did you hear Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying' 'O Hassan ! Reply on behalf of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). O Allah ! Support him (Hassan) with the Holy Spirit (Gabriel).'?" Abu Huraira said, "Yes."Sahih al-Bukhari 6152 · Muhammad Muhsin KhanOpen the Source (6), Muhammad Muhsin Khan, records a prayer that Allah support Hassan with the Holy Spirit, and the translation adds Gabriel in parentheses.
• Luke 1:19Luke 1:19 · King James VersionAnd the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.Luke 1:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source (7) has the angel say, “I am Gabriel.” Luke 1:35Luke 1:35 · King James VersionAnd the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.Luke 1:35 · King James VersionOpen the Source (8) says the Holy Ghost shall come upon Mary. The chapter uses both names.
• Acts 5:3–4Acts 5:3–4 · King James Version^5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ^5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.Acts 5:3–4 · King James VersionOpen the Source (9) says Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost, and that the lie was not unto men but unto God. Matthew 28:19Matthew 28:19 · King James VersionGo ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Matthew 28:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source (10) names the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost in one name.
• Is Muhammad the Paraclete? is a different identification, of the Helper in John 14–16. Is the Holy Spirit God? sets out the Christian confession in full.

What the Qur’an Calls the Pure Spirit

Qur’an 2:87Qur’an 2:87 · Saheeh InternationalAnd We did certainly give Moses the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel]. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.Qur’an 2:87 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source (1) says Allah gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit. Saheeh International puts the identification in the translation itself: the Pure Spirit, that is, the angel Gabriel. Qur’an 5:110Qur’an 5:110 · Saheeh International[The Day] when Allāh will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel] and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind [from birth] and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, "This is not but obvious magic."Qur’an 5:110 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source uses the same title when Allah reminds Jesus of that support. Qur’an 19:17Qur’an 19:17 · Saheeh InternationalAnd she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel [i.e., Gabriel], and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.Qur’an 19:17 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source says Allah sent to Mary “Our Angel,” and Saheeh International glosses the angel as Gabriel, who represented himself to her as a man.

The one who brings the Qur’an down is named the same way. Qur’an 2:97Qur’an 2:97 · Saheeh InternationalSay, "Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel - it is [none but] he who has brought it [i.e., the Qur’ān] down upon your heart, [O Muḥammad], by permission of Allāh, confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers."Qur’an 2:97 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source (2) says Gabriel brought it down upon Muhammad’s heart by Allah’s permission. Qur’an 16:102Qur’an 16:102 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O Muḥammad], "The Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."Qur’an 16:102 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source (3) says the Pure Spirit, glossed as Gabriel, brought it down from the Lord in truth. Qur’an 26:192Qur’an 26:192 · Saheeh InternationalAnd indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds.Qur’an 26:192 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source (4) says the Qur’an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds, and the next verse says the Trustworthy Spirit, glossed as Gabriel, has brought it down.

In this English Qur’an (2:87Qur’an 2:87 · Saheeh InternationalAnd We did certainly give Moses the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel]. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.Qur’an 2:87 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source, 16:102Qur’an 16:102 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O Muḥammad], "The Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."Qur’an 16:102 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source, 26:193Qur’an 26:193 · Saheeh InternationalThe Trustworthy Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it downQur’an 26:193 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source), the spirit who supports Jesus and the spirit who brings the revelation are both Gabriel. The bracketed glosses are the translators’, but they follow the standard Sunni reading described below. The question for Christians is whether that identification is what Luke, John, and Acts mean by the Holy Ghost.

What Ibn Kathir Says

The English abridgement of Ibn Kathir on Qur’an 2:87Ibn Kathir on Qur’an 2:87 · Ibn Kathir (Abridged)Allah also aided him with Ruh Al-Qudus, and that refers to Jibril. All of these signs testified to the truthfulness of `Isa and what he was sent with.Ibn Kathir on Qur’an 2:87 · Ibn Kathir (Abridged)Open the Source (5) states the identification in its own sentence. Ibn Kathir’s line is:

Allah also aided him with Ruh Al-Qudus, and that refers to Jibril.

Qur’an 2:87 · Ibn Kathir (Abridged)

Qur’an · accepted by Muslims

The same passage says the proof that Jibril is the Ruh Al-Qudus is a statement of Ibn Masud, and that this was also the view of Ibn Abbas, Muhammad bin Kab, Ismail bin Khalid, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi bin Anas, Atiyah Al-Awfi, and Qatadah. The heading on that tafsir is “Jibril is Ruh Al-Qudus.” Ibn Kathir supports the reading with Qur’an 26:193–194Qur’an 26:193 · Saheeh InternationalThe Trustworthy Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it downQur’an 26:193 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source, where the trustworthy spirit brings the revelation down upon the Prophet’s heart. He then cites the prayer for the poet Hassan bin Thabit, “O Allah! Aid Hassan with Ruh Al-Qudus, for he defended Your Prophet,” and a report in Ibn Hibban’s Sahih that Ruh Al-Qudus informed the Prophet that no soul dies before it completes its provision and its term. In this commentary, Gabriel is the meaning of the title, not a modern footnote.

What Sahih al-Bukhari 6152 Says

Sahih al-Bukhari 6152Sahih al-Bukhari 6152 · Muhammad Muhsin KhanNarrated Abu Salama bin `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf: that he heard Hassan bin Thabit Al-Ansari asking the witness of Abu Huraira, saying, "O Abu- Huraira! I beseech you by Allah (to tell me). Did you hear Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying' 'O Hassan ! Reply on behalf of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). O Allah ! Support him (Hassan) with the Holy Spirit (Gabriel).'?" Abu Huraira said, "Yes."Sahih al-Bukhari 6152 · Muhammad Muhsin KhanOpen the Source (6), in Muhammad Muhsin Khan’s English, has Hassan bin Thabit ask Abu Huraira whether he heard the Messenger pray that Allah would support Hassan with the Holy Spirit, and the English adds Gabriel in parentheses. Abu Huraira says yes. The parentheses are the translator’s. The prayer asks for support with the Holy Spirit. The English then tells the reader that spirit is Gabriel.

Other reports of the same prayer do not all print that parenthesis. Sahih al-Bukhari 453 gives it as “O Allah! Help him with the Holy Spirit,” and Sahih al-Bukhari 3212 also has the Holy Spirit with no gloss. A related report names the angel in the Arabic itself. In Sahih al-Bukhari 4123, the Prophet tells Hassan, “Abuse them (with your poems), and Gabriel is with you (i.e, supports you).” Read together, the reports treat the Holy Spirit who supports Hassan and Gabriel who is with him as the same helper. That is the Sunni hadith background to the gloss.

What Luke 1 Says About Gabriel and the Holy Ghost

Luke 1:19Luke 1:19 · King James VersionAnd the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.Luke 1:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source (7) is the angel’s own name: “I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.” He is speaking to Zacharias about John. He is an angel who stands in God’s presence and is sent with a message.

Luke 1:26–27Luke 1:26–27 · King James Version^1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, ^1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.Luke 1:26–27 · King James VersionOpen the Source says in the sixth month Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, to Mary. Luke 1:35Luke 1:35 · King James VersionAnd the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.Luke 1:35 · King James VersionOpen the Source (8) is the answer to her question: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” The chapter that names Gabriel does not call the Holy Ghost Gabriel. The angel announces. The Holy Ghost comes upon Mary.

Hebrews 1:14Hebrews 1:14 · King James VersionAre they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?Hebrews 1:14 · King James VersionOpen the Source says the angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. Hebrews 1:5Hebrews 1:5 · King James VersionFor unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?Hebrews 1:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source asks to which of the angels God ever said, “Thou art my Son.” An angel can be called a spirit and can be sent. The Holy Ghost in Luke 1:35 is not introduced as that messenger.

What Acts 5 and Matthew 28:19 Say

Acts 5:3–4Acts 5:3–4 · King James Version^5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? ^5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.Acts 5:3–4 · King James VersionOpen the Source (9) is Peter speaking to Ananias. He lied to the Holy Ghost about the price of the land. Peter says he has not lied unto men, but unto God. The lie has one object. The Holy Ghost and God are not two recipients in that sentence.

Matthew 28:19Matthew 28:19 · King James VersionGo ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Matthew 28:19 · King James VersionOpen the Source (10) sends the disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. One name, three who share it. Gabriel is not in the formula. John 14:16–17John 14:16–17 · King James Version^14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ^14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.John 14:16–17 · King James VersionOpen the Source says the Father will give another Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who dwells with the disciples and will be in them. John 14:26John 14:26 · King James VersionBut the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.John 14:26 · King James VersionOpen the Source says that Comforter is the Holy Ghost. Is Muhammad the Paraclete? answers the claim that this Helper is Muhammad. The claim here is that the Helper is Gabriel. The verses call him the Holy Ghost, and Acts 5 calls a lie to him a lie to God.

Jehovah’s Witnesses say the holy spirit is not a person. That is a different claim from the Islamic one, covered in Is the Holy Spirit a Person or an Impersonal Force?. Is the Holy Spirit God? quotes the churches on the confession that the Spirit is a person of the one God. The Trinity is that confession. The Qur’an identifies the Pure Spirit with Gabriel. Luke, Acts, and Matthew do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does Ruh Al-Qudus Mean?

The Arabic phrase in Qur’an 2:87Qur’an 2:87 · Saheeh InternationalAnd We did certainly give Moses the Scripture [i.e., the Torah] and followed up after him with messengers. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel]. But is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.Qur’an 2:87 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source is rūḥ al-qudus, literally “spirit of holiness.” Saheeh International renders it “the Pure Spirit.” The same Arabic phrase is the usual Arabic Christian name for the Holy Spirit.

Why Does the Qur’an Say Gabriel Brought It Down?

Qur’an 16:102Qur’an 16:102 · Saheeh InternationalSay, [O Muḥammad], "The Pure Spirit [i.e., Gabriel] has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."Qur’an 16:102 · Saheeh InternationalOpen the Source says the Pure Spirit brought it down “to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims.” In Islamic teaching, Gabriel’s role is to carry revelation to the prophets.

Is Gabriel the Holy Spirit in Luke 1?

No. In Luke 1, Gabriel is the messenger who stands in God’s presence and announces the birth. The Holy Ghost is the one who comes upon Mary for the conception. The angel speaks about the Holy Ghost in the third person.

Keep Reading

• Is the Holy Spirit God?
• Is Muhammad the Paraclete?
• Is the Holy Spirit a Person or an Impersonal Force?
• The Trinity
• Can God Have a Son?
• Do Muslims Believe in Jesus?