The Qurʾanic Word Rūḥ and Its Restricted Interpretations: An Analysis of Classical Tafsīr Tradition

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to uncover a fuller meaning of the qur’anic word rūḥ through a critical analysis of the classical tafsīr tradition, challenging the prevailing scholarly opinion that rūḥ must be interpreted through the lens of that tradition. I demonstrate that classical Muslim exegetes restricted their interpretations of the word, saying that the rūḥ is either Gabriel, a super angel/metaphysical creature, a created soul or an inspiration from God, or else remaining silent and not offering any interpretation. They gave these interpretations even in cases where they were contradictory or implausible because other interpretations might have raised theological concerns rooted in the fear of conflating the rūḥ or Jesus with God. The rūḥ had to be interpreted as muḥdath (created) not qadīm (eternally existing), lest any implied anthropomorphic overtones might impinge upon God’s transcendence, and to avoid the theological implications of Jesus being rūḥ Allāh. This restriction on interpretation has substantially impacted later exegetes, philologists and Islamic scholars, obscuring the meaning of the qur’anic rūḥ. This article recommends a more critical reading of tafsīr in order uncover a fuller meaning of the qur’anic rūḥ.