RUH IS NOT SOUL

Assalamu'alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Allah subhanawata'ala says

فَإِذَا سَوَّيۡتُهُۥ وَنَفَخۡتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُواْ لَهُۥ سَٰجِدِينَ

“So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him of My Ruh, then fall down to him in prostration.” (QS. Sad: 72)

The verse above is information that Allah gives to humans that when a human is created and develops inside a mother's womb until complete, Allah breathes into him a part of Himself which is called the Ruh.

The presence of this Ruh of Allah optimally boosts the Hearing, Sight, and Fuad, enabling humans to think, act, and judge, unlike animals.

ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِۦۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفِۡٔدَةَۚ قَلِيلٗا مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ

“Then He proportioned him and breathed into him of His Ruh and He made for you the hearing and the sight and the Fuad. Little are you grateful.” (QS. Sajdah: 9)

Many Muslims consider this Ruh to be Soul. Let's look at what Soul means according to International Dictionary : “Soul is the giver of life that causes organisms (humans, animals, etc.) to be alive.” Is it true that the Ruh is Soul ?

If we observe (please ask experts such as doctors, midwives, etc.) the reproductive process from when the sperm cell is ejaculated into the ovary or ovum until it becomes a zygote, then develops into an embryo in the womb, and continues to grow into a fetus, is the entire process in a state of life or death? Because if it were dead, it certainly would not develop into a fetus and would have to be curetted.

In the Hadith, this Ruh is blown into the fetus at 120 days or 4 months of age. If it is true that Ruh is Soul, we must agree that before 120 days or 4 months, the fetus is in a state of death, but in reality, it is not dead (please ask experts, doctors, midwives, etc.).

If Ruh is not Soul, then what is it?

From the 2 verses above, 2 conclusions can be drawn:

1. Ruh is the complement/perfecter of humans.
2. Ruh is a property of Allah that is breathed into humans.

Let's read another verse:

تَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍۢ ٤

“The angels and the Ruh descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.” (QS. Al-Qadr: 4)

In Surah Al-Qadr verse 4, the function of the Ruh is mentioned as being to regulate all matters. Thus, the conclusions increase to:

1. Ruh is the complement/perfecter of humans.
2. Ruh is a property of Allah that is breathed into humans.
3. Ruh can regulate all matters.

Why is it said that it can regulate all matters? Let's use our logic and rationality.

If all matters can be regulated, what is the form of that regulation?

Regulations usually consist of points that contain provisions limiting a person's behavior and are binding to be obeyed, as well as providing sanctions for violators. Regulations function as a guide for behavior, whether in the form of commands or prohibitions.

For example:

Office Regulations

1. Dress politely and neatly
2. Wear office uniform
3. Time discipline
4. Increase company productivity, etc.

Above are examples of regulations that apply to matters in the workplace, as are many other regulations. Now, what is the stimulant/trigger that brings forth all these regulations that exist within humans?

It is none other than "the potential for knowledge", so that with it, one can distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, the Qur'an is also called Ruh, because the Qur'an is the source of knowledge.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ رُوحٗا مِّنۡ أَمۡرِنَاۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدۡرِي مَا ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ وَلَا ٱلۡإِيمَٰنُ وَلَٰكِن جَعَلۡنَٰهُ نُورٗا نَّهۡدِي بِهِۦ مَن نَّشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَاۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهۡدِيٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ

“And thus We have revealed to you a Ruh of Our command. You did not know what the Book was nor what faith was, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, you guide to a straight path.” (QS. As-Syu'ara: 52)

This verse explains that before the coming of the Qur'an, we did not know what the Book was and did not know what faith was. Then Allah made the Qur'an a light by which it can be a guide for humans.

Besides being called a guide, the Qur'an is also called an explainer and a distinguisher. Therefore, the Qur'an is called Ruh because of its potential to provide knowledge to humans.

شَهۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِيٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ هُدٗى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرۡقَانِۚ

“(The specified days are) the month of Ramadhan, in which the Qur’an was revealed as a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 185)

Therefore, we sometimes connect with Allah through prayer and other spiritual relationships, because the property of God is within us. Allah SWT says:

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌۖ أُجِيبُ دَعۡوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِۖ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُونَ

“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then [answer that] I am near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me that they may be rightly guided.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 186)

If the Ruh is Soul as the giver of life that causes organisms (humans, animals, etc.) to be alive, then we must agree that ANIMALS and PLANTS possess a Ruh. However, in reality, only HUMANS are given the Ruh by Allah in the Qur'an, not Animals, let alone Plants. Search until the Day of Judgment for a verse where Animals or Plants are given the Ruh by Allah in the Qur'an; you certainly will not find it.

So, do you still want to maintain that Ruh is Soul by following what people say?

Or switch to Ruh as the potential for knowledge by following what God says?

See you again

Wassalamu'alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

@Abu Musa 2025