The Quran does say that Allah supported Jesus, the son of Mary, with the Holy Spirit. The mistake is to assume that this support was exclusive to Jesus, that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, or that this honor proves superiority over Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In the dominant Sunni tafsir of these passages, Ruh al-Qudus is Jibril, the noble angel who also brought the Quran down to Muhammad (PBUH).
What the Quran Says About Jesus
The Quran mentions support by the Holy Spirit as one of Allah's great favors to Jesus:
We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Holy Spirit.
Quran 2:87
O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Holy Spirit; you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity.
Quran 5:110
This is a real honor and distinction for Jesus. However, the verses present it as Allah's support of Jesus, not as independent power possessed by Jesus and not as proof of divinity. In the same passage of Quran 5:110, Jesus' miracles are repeatedly described as occurring "by My permission," meaning by Allah's permission.
Who Is the Holy Spirit in Islam?
In classical Sunni tafsir, Ruh al-Qudus - commonly translated "the Holy Spirit" - is understood by the majority as Jibril. Tafsirs such as those of al-Tabari, al-Qurtubi, and Ibn Kathir mention this as the well-known and strongest explanation, while also recording other early explanations. The Quran itself strongly points in this direction by linking the Holy Spirit and Jibril with the descent of revelation.
Say, "The Holy Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."
Quran 16:102
Another verse explicitly names Jibril as the one who brought the revelation down to the Prophet's heart:
Say, "Whoever is an enemy to Jibril - it is he who has brought it down upon your heart by permission of Allah, confirming what was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers."
Quran 2:97
The same reality is described with another title:
The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down upon your heart, that you may be of the warners.
Quran 26:193-194
Thus, in Islamic usage here, the Holy Spirit is not a part of God and not a person of a Trinity. He is the created, honored angel Jibril, acting by Allah's command.
Was the Holy Spirit's Support Only for Jesus?
If the question means, "Does the Quran repeatedly use the exact phrase 'supported him with the Holy Spirit' for Jesus?", then yes, that wording is a special Quranic description of Jesus. But if the claim is that the Holy Spirit was connected only to Jesus, then no. The Quran says the Holy Spirit brought revelation to Muhammad (PBUH), and the authentic Sunnah uses the same expression of support for someone who was not even a prophet.
The Prophet (PBUH) said regarding Hassan ibn Thabit, the Companion who defended Islam with poetry:
The Holy Spirit will continue to support you so long as you defend Allah and His Messenger.
Sahih Muslim
In another authentic wording, the Prophet (PBUH) supplicated for him:
O Allah, support him with the Holy Spirit.
Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Hassan was a Companion, not a prophet. Therefore, support by the Holy Spirit cannot mean that Jesus alone had divine assistance through Jibril, nor can it be used as proof of divinity.
Does This Prove Jesus Is Superior to Muhammad (PBUH)?
No. The Quran teaches two truths together. First, Muslims believe in all prophets without rejecting some and accepting others:
All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, saying, "We make no distinction between any of His messengers."
Quran 2:285
This means we do not discriminate in faith by accepting one messenger and denying another. It does not mean all prophets have identical ranks, missions, or miracles. The Quran also says:
Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some of them in degree. And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs, and We supported him with the Holy Spirit.
Quran 2:253
So Jesus being supported by the Holy Spirit is one of his great honors. Moses was honored by being spoken to directly. Abraham was honored as Allah's close friend. Muhammad (PBUH) was honored with the final message, being the Seal of the Prophets (Quran 33:40), and being sent to all mankind (Quran 7:158). The Prophet (PBUH) said:
I will be the master of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, the first whose grave will be opened, the first to intercede, and the first whose intercession will be accepted.
Sahih Muslim
Conclusion
The Quran's mention of Jesus being supported by the Holy Spirit affirms Jesus' noble status and miraculous mission. It does not say that the Holy Spirit supported only Jesus, nor does it prove that the Holy Spirit is divine, nor does it undermine the prophethood or rank of Muhammad (PBUH). In Islam, all prophets are honored, all are believed in, and each was supported by Allah in the way suited to his mission.