Ruh

The Ruh ( ٱلرُّوحُ ), often translated as Spirit or Revelation, is a concept about which the Quran tells us that we have limited information.

[17:85] They ask you about the revelation (ruh). Say, “The revelation (ruh) comes from my Lord. The knowledge given to you is minute.”

 وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّوحِ قُلِ ٱلرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

Even though our knowledge may be limited, let’s see how this term is used throughout the Quran.

Root

The root of the word Ruh is “ra-waw-ha” ( ر و ح ), which occurs 57 times in the Quran. The root has the following derivative meanings:

breath of life; wind; strength; Spirit; soul; inspiration; revelation; essence; to go or do a thing at evening; Note: the medium by which the word of God is carried

• 27 times, it is used in the context of wind
• Twice in the context of returning/traveling (16:6, 34:12)
• Once in the context of smell (12:94)
• Twice in the context of fragrant flowery plants (55:12, 56:89)
• Once in the context of spirit in the meaning of strength (8:46)
• Once in the context of joy (56:89)
• Twice in one verse in the context of God’s essence/grace (12:87)

This leaves 21 other occurrences in the Quran where the word is used in the context of a spirit or revelation (including the two occurrences mentioned in 17:85 above).

God Breathed His Spirit into Adam

Three times in the Quran, it describes God breathing His spirit in the creation of Adam.

[15:29] “Once I perfect him, and blow into him from My spirit, you shall fall prostrate before him.”

 فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَـٰجِدِينَ

[32:9] He shaped him and blew into him from His spirit. And He gave you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains; rarely are you thankful.

 ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِۦ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ

[38:72] “Once I design him, and blow into him from My spirit, you shall fall prostrate before him.”

 فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَـٰجِدِينَ

Our Spirit into Mary

The Quran mentions breathing “our Spirit” into Mary three times to create Jesus.

[19:17] While a barrier separated her from them, we sent to her our Spirit. He went to her in the form of a human being.

 فَٱتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا

[21:91] As for the one who maintained her virginity, we blew into her from our spirit, and thus, we made her and her son a portent for the whole world.

 وَٱلَّتِىٓ أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهَا مِن رُّوحِنَا وَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا وَٱبْنَهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

[66:12] Also Mary, the Amramite. She maintained her chastity, then we blew into her from our spirit. She believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures; she was obedient.

وَمَرْيَمَ ٱبْنَتَ عِمْرَٰنَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ

Jesus Ruh

[4:171] O people of the scripture, do not transgress the limits of your religion, and do not say about GOD except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was a messenger of GOD, and His word that He had sent to Mary, and a revelation from Him. Therefore, you shall believe in GOD and His messengers. You shall not say, “Trinity.” You shall refrain from this for your own good. GOD is only one god. Be He glorified; He is much too glorious to have a son. To Him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. GOD suffices as Lord and Master.

 يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ أَلْقَىٰهَآ إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ ٱنتَهُوا۟ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ إِنَّمَا ٱللَّهُ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥٓ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا

Jesus Supported with the Holy Spirit (Ruh)

Three of the four instances in the Quran of the Holy Spirit ( rūḥi l-qudusi / رُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ) are mentioned in support of Jesus.

[2:87] We gave Moses the scripture, and subsequent to him we sent other messengers, and we gave Jesus, son of Mary, profound miracles and supported him with the Holy Spirit. Is it not a fact that every time a messenger went to you with anything you disliked, your ego caused you to be arrogant? Some of them you rejected, and some of them you killed.

 وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَقَفَّيْنَا مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ بِٱلرُّسُلِ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ أَفَكُلَّمَا جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۢ بِمَا لَا تَهْوَىٰٓ أَنفُسُكُمُ ٱسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ فَفَرِيقًا كَذَّبْتُمْ وَفَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ

[5:110] GOD will say, “O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessings upon you and your mother. I supported you with the Holy Spirit, to enable you to speak to the people from the crib, as well as an adult. I taught you the scripture, wisdom, the Torah, and the Gospel. Recall that you created from clay the shape of a bird by My leave, then blew into it, and it became a live bird by My leave. You healed the blind and the leprous by My leave, and revived the dead by My leave. Recall that I protected you from the Children of Israel who wanted to hurt you, despite the profound miracles you had shown them. The disbelievers among them said, ‘This is obviously magic.’

 إِذْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَـٰعِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱذْكُرْ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَتِكَ إِذْ أَيَّدتُّكَ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ تُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَإِذْ عَلَّمْتُكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ وَإِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ ٱلطِّينِ كَهَيْـَٔةِ ٱلطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِى فَتَنفُخُ فِيهَا فَتَكُونُ طَيْرًۢا بِإِذْنِى وَتُبْرِئُ ٱلْأَكْمَهَ وَٱلْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِى وَإِذْ تُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِى وَإِذْ كَفَفْتُ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ عَنكَ إِذْ جِئْتَهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ

[2:253] These messengers; we blessed some of them more than others. For example, GOD spoke to one, and we raised some of them to higher ranks. And we gave Jesus, son of Mary, profound miracles and supported him with the Holy Spirit. Had GOD willed, their followers would not have fought with each other, after the clear proofs had come to them. Instead, they disputed among themselves; some of them believed, and some disbelieved. Had GOD willed, they would not have fought. Everything is in accordance with GOD’s will.

 تِلْكَ ٱلرُّسُلُ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ مِّنْهُم مَّن كَلَّمَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٍ وَءَاتَيْنَا عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَيَّدْنَـٰهُ بِرُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن كَفَرَ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يُرِيدُ

The Holy Spirit Brought the Quran

One time, the Quran uses the expression the Holy Spirit ( rūḥi l-qudusi / رُوحِ ٱلْقُدُسِ ) in the sending down of the Quran. Another time, it uses the expression “The Honest Spirit” ( l-rūḥu l-amīnu / ٱلرُّوحُ ٱلْأَمِينُ ). In this verse, Dr. Rashad Khalifa identifies this entity as the angel Gabriel.

[16:102] Say, “The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord, truthfully, to assure those who believe, and to provide a beacon and good news for the submitters.”

 قُلْ نَزَّلَهُۥ رُوحُ ٱلْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ

[26:193] The Honest Spirit (Gabriel) came down with it.

 نَزَلَ بِهِ ٱلرُّوحُ ٱلْأَمِينُ

Ruh supports the Believers

The Quran also states that the believers will be supported by the Ruh.

[58:22] You will not find people who believe in GOD and the Last Day befriending those who oppose GOD and His messenger, even if they were their parents, or their children, or their siblings, or their tribe. For these, He decrees faith into their hearts, and supports them with inspiration from Him, and admits them into gardens with flowing streams wherein they abide forever. GOD is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. These are the party of GOD. Most assuredly, GOD’s party are the winners.

 لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ يُوَآدُّونَ مَنْ حَآدَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَتَبَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حِزْبُ ٱللَّهِ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ

Ruh From God’s Command

Three times in the Quran, we see that the Ruh is associated with carrying out God’s commands.

[40:15] Possessor of the highest ranks, and Ruler of the whole dominion. He sends inspiration, bearing His commands, to whomever He chooses from among His servants, to warn about the Day of Summoning.

 رَفِيعُ ٱلدَّرَجَـٰتِ ذُو ٱلْعَرْشِ يُلْقِى ٱلرُّوحَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ لِيُنذِرَ يَوْمَ ٱلتَّلَاقِ

The next verse indicates that the ruh was given to the prophet through inspiration (wahi).

[42:52] Thus, we inspired to you a revelation proclaiming our commandments. You had no idea about the scripture, or faith. Yet, we made this a beacon to guide whomever we choose from among our servants. Surely, you guide in a straight path.

 وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِى مَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ وَلَا ٱلْإِيمَـٰنُ وَلَـٰكِن جَعَلْنَـٰهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِى بِهِۦ مَن نَّشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

Additionally, in 6:19, we see that the Quran was also disseminated to him through inspiration (wahi).

[6:19] Say, “Whose testimony is the greatest?” Say, “GOD’s. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods beside GOD.” Say, “I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry.”

 قُلْ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَكْبَرُ شَهَـٰدَةً قُلِ ٱللَّهُ شَهِيدٌۢ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَأُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لِأُنذِرَكُم بِهِۦ وَمَنۢ بَلَغَ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً أُخْرَىٰ قُل لَّآ أَشْهَدُ قُلْ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ وَإِنَّنِى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

Angels + Ruh

Four times in the Quran, the Ruh is mentioned in association with the angels.

[97:4] The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by their Lord’s leave, to carry out every command.

 تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ

[16:2] He sends down the angels with the revelations, carrying His commands, to whomever He chooses from among His servants: “You shall preach that there is no other god beside Me; You shall reverence Me.”

يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ بِٱلرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦٓ أَنْ أَنذِرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱتَّقُونِ

[70:4] The angels, and the Ruh, climb to Him in a day that equals fifty thousand years.

 تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ

[78:38] The day will come when the Spirit and the angels will stand in a row. None will speak except those permitted by the Most Gracious, and they will utter only what is right.

 يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلرُّوحُ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ صَفًّا لَّا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابًا

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Appendix

Transliteration	Arabic	Translation	Sura:Verse:Word
birūḥi	بِرُوحِ	with Spirit	2:87:15
l-riyāḥi	ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ	the winds,	2:164:35
birūḥi	بِرُوحِ	with Spirit	2:253:20
rīḥin	رِيحٍ	a wind	3:117:9
warūḥun	وَرُوحٌ	and a revelation	4:171:24
birūḥi	بِرُوحِ	with Spirit	5:110:14
l-riyāḥa	ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ	the winds	7:57:4
rīḥukum	رِيحُكُمْ	your strength / spirit,	8:46:8
birīḥin	بِرِيحٍ	with a wind	10:22:14
rīḥun	رِيحٌ	a wind	10:22:19
rawḥi	رَّوْحِ	(the) essence / mercy / grace	12:87:10
rawḥi	رَّوْحِ	(the) essence / mercy / grace	12:87:16
rīḥa	رِيحَ	(the) smell (of)	12:94:8
l-rīḥu	ٱلرِّيحُ	the wind	14:18:9
l-riyāḥa	ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ	the winds	15:22:2
rūḥī	رُّوحِى	My spirit,	15:29:6
bil-rūḥi	بِٱلرُّوحِ	with the revelations	16:2:3
turīḥūna	تُرِيحُونَ	you [all] bring (them) in	16:6:5
rūḥu	رُوحُ	Spirit	16:102:3
l-rīḥi	ٱلرِّيحِ	the wind (tempest),	17:69:12
l-rūḥi	ٱلرُّوحِ	the revelation.	17:85:3
l-rūḥu	ٱلرُّوحُ	“The revelation	17:85:5
l-riyāḥu	ٱلرِّيَـٰحُ	the winds.	18:45:17
rūḥanā	رُوحَنَا	our Spirit.	19:17:7
l-rīḥa	ٱلرِّيحَ	the wind	21:81:2
rūḥinā	رُّوحِنَا	our spirit,	21:91:7
l-rīḥu	ٱلرِّيحُ	the wind	22:31:18
l-riyāḥa	ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ	the winds	25:48:4
l-rūḥu	ٱلرُّوحُ	the Spirit (*Gabriel)	26:193:3
l-riyāḥa	ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ	the winds	27:63:9
l-riyāḥa	ٱلرِّيَاحَ	the winds (as)	30:46:5
l-riyāḥa	ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ	the winds,	30:48:4
rīḥan	رِيحًا	a wind	30:51:3
rūḥihi	رُّوحِهِۦ	His spirit	32:9:6
rīḥan	رِيحًا	a wind	33:9:13
l-rīḥa	ٱلرِّيحَ	the wind –	34:12:2
warawāḥuhā	وَرَوَاحُهَا	and its afternoon course / return trip (going)	34:12:5
l-riyāḥa	ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ	the winds	35:9:4
l-rīḥa	ٱلرِّيحَ	the wind	38:36:3
rūḥī	رُّوحِى	My spirit,	38:72:6
l-rūḥa	ٱلرُّوحَ	the inspiration	40:15:6
rīḥan	رِيحًا	a wind	41:16:3
l-rīḥa	ٱلرِّيحَ	the wind	42:33:4
rūḥan	رُوحًا	a revelation	42:52:4
l-riyāḥi	ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ	the winds (are)	45:5:17
rīḥun	رِيحٌ	a (violent) wind	46:24:15
l-rīḥa	ٱلرِّيحَ	the wind	51:41:6
rīḥan	رِيحًا	a wind	54:19:4
wal-rayḥānu	وَٱلرَّيْحَانُ	and the fragrant flowery plants (spices).	55:12:4
farawḥun	فَرَوْحٌ	Then joy	56:89:1
warayḥānun	وَرَيْحَانٌ	and fragrant flowery plants	56:89:2
birūḥin	بِرُوحٍ	with inspiration	58:22:28
rūḥinā	رُّوحِنَا	our spirit.	66:12:10
birīḥin	بِرِيحٍ	by a wind	69:6:4
wal-rūḥu	وَٱلرُّوحُ	and the Spirit	70:4:3
l-rūḥu	ٱلرُّوحُ	the Spirit	78:38:3
wal-rūḥu	وَٱلرُّوحُ	and the Spirit	97:4