whatever the meaning of parakletos is ahmad or the comforter, the description and the introductions, which jesus (pbuh) gave to the parakletos, prove that they were not meant for holy spirit. they confirm that he is a human being that god gives the prophethood. this is clear through john's passages about the parakletos.
- when he talked about the parakletos, john used transitive verbs (talking, hearing and blaming). when he said: "whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak", these descriptions does not fit the fire tongues that came on the disciples on the fiftieth day. there is no trace of evidence that these tongues have said anything. the best that the spirit can do is an inspiration, talking is a human characteristic and not spiritual.
the early christians interpreted john's words as a prophecy about a human being. monotones in the second century (187) claimed that he is the coming parakletos. mane in the fourth century did the same, he claimed to be the parakletos, and acted like jesus by choosing twelve disciples and seventy bishops and sent them to the eastern countries. if their understanding were that the parakletos is the third person in trinity, the holy spirit, they would not dare to make this claim. 1
-another description of the coming prophet is that he comes after jesus (pbuh) departs this earth. jesus and this comforter messenger cannot gather in this world. this, once again, affirms that the comforter cannot be the holy spirit, which supported jesus throughout his life. where the comforter does not come to this world while jesus still in it. “if i go not away, the comforter will not come unto you".
the holy spirit existed before jesus (pbuh), and he existed in the disciples before the departure of jesus. the holy spirit was a witness for the creation of the heavens and earth, (genesis: 1/2), and he was with the children of israel for a long time "where is he that put his holy spirit within him?" (isaiah: 63/11).
the holy spirit also, had a role in the birth of jesus (pbuh), for his mother “wasfound with child of the holy spirit." (matthew: 1/18), and that indicated his presence. they were together in the day when jesus was baptized. "and the holy spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him." (luke: 3/22) jesus gave him to the disciples before he left when he said to them, “receivethe holy spirit." (john: 20/22), and according to the jesuit priesthood edition: "and he blew in them, and said: take the holy spirit".
the holy spirit existed with jesus and before him, and he was given to the disciples, but as for the comforter or the coming holy spirit, he was "if i do not go he will not come to you", so he was not the holy spirit as the christians claim.
- what indicates the humanness of the holy spirit is that, he is from the same kind as jesus (pbuh), and jesus was human. jesus said about him: "and i request from the father and he will give you another comforter". the greek text uses the word (allon) which is used to indicate another person but from the same kind, while the word (hetenos) is used to indicate another person but from a different kind. it will make sense, if we say that another messenger is what was meant by that, but saying that another holy spirit is what was meant, does not make any sense, because the holy spirit is one and not many.
-the coming holy spirit was subject to denial from the jews and the disciples, that is why jesus (pbuh) repeated his request to believe in him and to follow him. he said to them, "if you love me then keep my commandments", and he said: "i told you before he will be, so if it happens you will believe” and he confirms his honesty saying: "he does not speak from himself, but all what he hears he speaks ".
these commands have no meaning if the coming was the holy spirit, as he descended as fire tongues, affected them to learn different languages, such a thing that does not need a command or an affirmation of his honesty, because it stays in the heart without a need to reject him or a power to deny him.
-the holy spirit is part of the trinity, and according to the christians faith, the disciples must have believed in him, so why did jesus (pbuh) command them to believe in him?
-according to christians, the holy spirit is god, who is equal to the father in his divinity; therefore, he is able to speak for himself, but the coming spirit of the truth " does not speak from himself, but all what he hears, he speaks ".
-john's passage indicated that the time in which the parakleetos will come would be later. jesus said to them, “ihave yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. howbeit when he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you to all truth". there are certain issues, which this prophet will tell but the disciples could not comprehend at that time if jesus told it. the reason is that humanity at that time has not reached a condition of understanding this complete and comprehensive religion, a religion that contains all aspects of life. it is not possible that the disciples’ understanding has changed within ten days from the ascendance of jesus to heaven, and there is nothing indicates such a change.
the christians even reported about them that after the holy spirit descended on them, they have dropped many of the statute rules and they allowed the forbidden. dropping the rules was easier for them than accepting a new law, which they were not able to bear or handle at the time of jesus. the parakletos comes with a statute with rules that will be heavy on the weak assigned ones, as god said: {verily, we shall send down to you a weighty word (i.e. obligations, legal laws, etc.)} (al-muzamel: 5).
-jesus told that, before the coming of the parakletos, great and important events would happen. "they will cast you out of the councils, even there is a time that who kills you will think that they are serving god by doing that". that had happened after the fiftieth, even centuries after the resurrection of jesus (pbuh). the passage does not talk about the romans’ or the jews’ persecution to the followers of jesus, it talks about the clergymen persecuting the monotheistic followers of jesus. they (the clergymen) think that, by doing such, they were doing well and good deeds, and that they are serving god and his religion. their councils decided to kick monotheists, arius and others, they kicked them out of the church councils, and they sentenced them to deprivation and abuse. this abuse and deprivation continued until the monotheists became rare prior to the appearance of islam.
-john mentioned that jesus (pbuh) told his disciples about the description of the parakletos, which does not match the holy spirit that came to the disciples on the fiftieth day. the holy spirit is a witness whose testimony about jesus will support the disciples’ testimony. “he will testify for me, and you will testify too" when did the holy spirit testify for jesus, and with what?
muhammad (pbuh) is the messenger of god, who testifies for jesus (pbuh). he declared his innocence of atheism and of claiming divinity. he testified for his mother’s innocence of what the jews have accused her {and because of their (jews) disbelief and uttering against maryam (mary) a grave false charge (that she has committed illegal sexual intercourse);} (al-nesaa: 156).
- jesus told that the coming holy spirit will glorify him. saying: "he will glorify me, because he takes from what is mine and tells you" no one came after jesus and glorified him the way the prophet of islam did. mohammad (pbuh) praised and glorified jesus, and explained his favor to humanity.
none of the new testament's scriptures reported to us that the holy spirit praised jesus or glorified him in the fiftieth day, when he descended shaped as fire tongues.
- jesus told that the parakletos would last forever, meaning his religion and statute. while we find that whatever power and capability, that were given to the disciples on the fiftieth (if it was true), disappeared with their death, and no report about the churchmen after them of doing such. our messenger muhammad (pbuh) will last forever with his guidance and his message, and there is no prophet or message will come after him.
- the parakletos as jesus (pbuh) mentioned, "reminds you of all what i said to you". there was no need to such a reminder ten days after his resurrection. in addition, the new testament did not report that the holy spirit reminded the apostles of anything. in the contrary, we find that their writings and epistles contain what indicates that some of them had forgotten to write details mentioned by others. the messenger of god, muhammad (pbuh), reminds us of god's commands that were unknown to humanity, in which he revealed to his prophets including jesus (pbuh).
the parakletos has duties that the holy spirit did not perform on the fiftieth day. "and when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."
the holy spirit did not blame or correct anyone on the fiftieth day, but that was the doing of muhammad (pbuh) with atheists and pagans.
abdul ahad dawood sees, that jesus explained the blame on the righteousness "as of righteousness, because i go to my father, and you see me no more”. it means that, he will blame those who believed in his crucifixion, and denied that he was saved from his wicked enemies. he told them that they will seek him but they will not find him, because he will ascend to heaven “little children, yet a little while i am with you. you will seek me, and just as i said to the jews, so now, also, i say to you, 'where i am going you cannot come.' (john: 13/33)
the coming prophet will blame the devil too, and indict him with the guidance and revelation that he will announce "of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." 1
blaming does not match the one who was named the “comforter”, as it is told that he came to give condolence to the disciples for the loss of their master and prophet. nevertheless, the condolence is given in calamities, and jesus (pbuh) gave them good news of his departure and the arrival of the coming prophet after him.
in addition, the condolence is offered at the time of the calamity or a little after, but not ten days, (the time the holy spirit came to the disciples), and why did not the comforter offer condolences to the mother of jesus, as she deserves it more than anyone else?
christians have no right to consider killing jesus (pbuh) a calamity that requires condolences. they believe that it is the reason for humanity’s salvation and everlasting happiness. its occurrence should be an unmatchable joy; therefore, if christians insist that the disciples were in need for condolences from the holy spirit, then the atonement creed is meaningless.
the above mentioned proved that the holy spirit is not the parakletos. the parakletos’ descriptions are descriptions of a prophet who will come after jesus (pbuh). the prophet that moses (pbuh) prophesized, "he does not speak from himself, but all what he hears he speaks ", and, "i will put my words in his mouth, so he speaks to them with all what i command him ". these are the descriptions of the prophet muhammad (pbuh) as god said: {nor does he speak of (his own) desire. it is only an inspiration that is inspired. he has been taught (this qur'ân) by one mighty in power [angel jibreel (el ángel gabriel)].} (al-najm: 3-5).
not only that, but also whatever mentioned about the parakletos has signs in the quran and the tradition of muhammad (pbuh). these signs indicate that this prophecy is muhammad’ (pbuh). he was the testifier for jesus (pbuh), he was the one who told about the future, and he is the final prophet, who god has accepted his faith until the day of judgment.
1 look in: the spacious answer to what jesus’ slave learned, by: khairudeen al alousy (1/286-291), muhammad in the holy bible, by: abdul ahad dawood (224-225), the glad tiding of the prophet of islam in the torah and the bible, by: ahmad hijazy al saqa (2/276-278).
1 look in: muhammad in the holy book, by: abdul ahad dawood (216), the torah & the bible & the quran and science, by: moris bokay (131-132), the glad tiding of the prophet of islam in the torah & the bible, by: ahmad hijazy al saqa (2/272-274, 280).