Commentators have had very long discussions about this verse (NO.85) in general, and about Man's ``SPIRIT'', or what is called the, ``SOUL'' in particular.
In our comments we shall begin to explain the literal meaning of the word, then we shall see how the word is used in Qurän; and finally will give our comments:ِ
1ِ The Arabic, ``ROOH'' and, ``RIH'' which means, ``WIND'' both are from the same root. It has many connotations and shades of meaning, like, RÄHAT=COMFORT, HAPPINESS, KINDNESS, INSPIRATION, HOLY SPIRIT, GOD'S AID, FINE, MERCURY and etc.
Therefore, if the Spirit of Man which is an independent, and incorporeal created essence is called ROOH, it is due to its similarity with the wind, in movement, life inducing, invisibility, and etc.
2ِ
A) The word, ``ROOH'' has been used in Qurän in a various way to bear a diversity of meanings:ِ
In S 2:253, it is used to show the HOLY SPIRIT which came from God to strengthen the Apostles in their missions;ِ
``And those Messengers We have exalted; some above the athers. Among them are some to whom Allah spoke. (MOSES THE INTERLOCUTOR) Others He raised in grades, and We gave Jesus the son of MARY, evidences, and We strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.''
B) In some passages it is used to mean SPIRITUAL POWER by which Allah strengthens the believers, e.g. in S 52:22;ِ
``They are those on whose heart, the faith is written, and Allah has strengthened them with a SPIRIT from Himself.''
C) Sometimes it is used in Qurän to illustrate the angel of inspiration as in, S 26:193:ِ
``This is a revelation from the Lord of the world, with which comes down the Trustworthy Spirit.''
D) In other cases it is used to imply an Arch angel such as Gabriel, as we read in S 97:4:ِ
``There comes down in the night of Ghadr, the angels and the SPIRIT, by Allah's permission, on every affair.''
The verse implies that the Spirit (GABRIEL) does not come down of his own accord. He, in accompany with the other angels, come down to dispose every affair of Man.
E) And finally the word may mean the soul, or the life bearing Spirit which God has blown it to Man. An instance of this is found in S 32:9:ِ
``He fashioned Man in due proportion and breathed into him of His Spirit.''
3ِ We now come to know what the word, ``ROOH'' that is translated to, ``SPIRIT'' may mean in the verse under our discussion. (NO.85) In other word, find the answer that what sort of a ROOH was the object of their question from our prophet?
All evidences prove that the questioners wanted to know what sort of a creature is the SPIRIT, or the SOUL of Man, which distinguishes him from other animals. What is the intelligent power which is the main source and the foundation of all our faculties, such as the wisdom, memory, knowledge, seeing, hearing, decision, love, faith, and etc.?
The Spirit has a structure which is different from that of our material body, and the laws and regulations that govern the Spirit are not similar to the laws that govern the body, and what we know about our soul is indeed very little, to compare it to what we must come to know.
Therefore our prophet is instructed to answer:ِ
``The Spirit is of the order of my Lord, and you are not given of knowledge, but a little.''
So the Spirit is one of the high mysteries which cannot be explained in our physical and material terms. Imam Sadiq (AS) has said:ِ ``Rooh is a creature created by God, which has power and can see. It belongs to the kingdom of heavens.''
Although our Spirit is nearer to us than everything else, we know very little about it. Our knowledge of past and present have not given us enough information about our ownself and soul. We cannot yet answer even to some of the fundamental question about our Spirit like;ِ Of what sort of material is it made of. Or how is its structural form?
Inspite of all the mysteries of the Spirit, and so many unanswered questions about it, we are not very stranger with the matter, that no one denies that a fact or an entity which is named Spirit exists in us, or we exist in it.
