Surah Al-Nisâ’ 4:171

يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۖ وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ ۚ انتَهُوا خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ ۚإِنَّمَا اللَّهُ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ سُبْحَانَهُ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ ۘ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا

4:171 Kalimat كَلِمَت is from kalamaòكلم, meaning to speak or to express. It is a unit of language consisting of one or more spoken sounds that can stand as complete utterance. Kalima كلِمmeans word, expression, proposition, speech, sentence, saying, assertion, expression of opinion, decree, commandment, argument, news, sign, plan, design, glad tidings, creation of Allâh, prophecy, or His promise. The word kalimatun كلمة as used in the Holy Qur’ân has the meaning of “promise” (cf. 8:7; 10:19, 33, 82, 96; 39:71). According to Ibn Jarîr, Kalimatu-huكَلِمَتُهُ is Allâh’s announcement and promise to Mary of a son as a result of her prayers, just as Zachariah received the glad tidings and promise kalimatun min Allâh كلمة من اللَّهِ from Allâh about the birth of John (Yahyâ) (3:39).

The word Rûhرُوحٌis derived from râha راح, which has a significance of respite from grief and sadness. Rûhis a breath of life, soul, spirit, inspiration, essence, joy, life-giving words of Allâh, or a Prophets Divine message (16:2; 16:102; 5:110; 58:22; 12:87; Lisân, Tâj). The word Rûh is used often in the Holy Qur’ân in the sense of Divine Revelation as it gives life to hearts that were dead in ignorance (26:193; 16:2; 97:4). In the chapter “Joseph” (12:87), we read the father of Joseph say, “Go my sons, and make a thorough search of Joseph and his brother. Do not despair of Allâh’s soothing mercy (Rûh Allâh اللَّهِروح). Verily none but the people who deny (the truth) can ever lose hope of Allâh’s soothing mercy (Rûh Allâh)”. Similarly we read in the chapter “Al-Mujâdilah” (58:22), “It is they (the true believers) in whose hearts Allâh has inscribed true faith and has strengthened them with His own Revelation (Rûh), and in the chapter “al-Nahl” (16:2) it is written, “He sends down the angels with revelation (Rûh)) by His command to such of His servants as He will” (cf.19:17). Thus, in the verse under discussion the word Rûhmeans Divine Mercy (12:87) or Divine Revelation with glad tidings (58:22) given to Mary. The verses referred to above tell us that the true believers are eligible to be strengthened by Divine Spirit or by Divine Revelation (Rûh).). The words kalimatunكلمةٌ and Rûhرُوحٌ are not attributes of Jesus, but they are used to raise the dignity of Mary as she receives a Promise and a Divine Revelation about the birth of a son who was to be a source of mercy and blessing (- Rahmah رحمة) for the people (19:21). The word Al-Rûhالروح used in verse 78:38 stands for Al-Rûh al-Quds, which cannot be applied here (see 2:87; 2:253; 4:171; 26:193; 32:9; 38:72; 42:52).