[Pooya/Ali Commentary 19:17] (see commentary for verse 16) Ruhana (Our spirit) refers to angel Jibra-il. Maryam went into privacy, from her people and from people in general, for prayer and devotion. It was in this state of purity that Jibra-il appeared to her in the form of a man. It means the spiritual power of Jibra-il made her see him as a man otherwise he remained a spirit, so as to solace her which he could not do unless she was able to see him with her own eyes. Also refer to the commentary of Hud: 69 to 78 for appearance of angels in human form before Ibrahim and Lut. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Some commentators, with ulterior motives, translate fa as "and" and ruh as "inspiration", in order to indicate that Maryam did not conceive Isa through the divine light but it was a man of flesh and blood who gave her a son. It is done to deny the miraculous birth of Isa in particular and miracles wrought by Allah through His messengers in general. They say that the spirit appeared before Maryam in her vision; and on this basis deny the physical ascension (mi-raj) of the Holy Prophet. For such people the Quran says: "As to those who do not believe in the hereafter, their (stubborn) hearts are unyielding (to the truth), and they are arrogant" (Nahl:22)