Q: Chapter 19, verse 17 of the Qur’an mentions the word “our spirit”. What is the explanation of this?
A. In Surah Maryam (Ch 19), verse 17, the word Roohana, meaning ‘our Spirit’ refers to the Arch Angel Jibreel (Alayhis Salaam) when Almighty Allah sent him to Hadhrat Maryam (Alayhas Salaam) to give her the good news of a son. This is the unanimous Tafseer and explanation of all commentators that has been transmitted over the centuries. There is no ‘tafseer bir-ra’iy’ in this regard because it is an historical event.
Mufti Siraj Desai