A miracle is also known as ‘Mu‘jizah’ in the Arabic language. Many times we find ourselves questioning if “Mu’jizah” miracles are real or just a fiction of someone’s imagination and hallucination designed to create some kind of restrictive guidelines on people. Were they ever real? How can one verify? This article aims to put those doubts to rest In-sha-Allah.
In Islam, a miracle is an extraordinary occurrence that is beyond the common laws of nature or any laws imaginable to the thinking faculty of man regarding the creation of this world and what is in it. It is an act brought about by decree of Allah (SWT) with a simple command “be and it is”. The term Mu’jizah is derived from the word ‘ajz’, which can literally be said to mean something that incapacitates and is out of the ordinary. According to Islamic thought, miracles can only happen by the permission of Allah (SWT) and it is one of His extraordinary signs through which He supported His beloved Messengers and Prophets who were sent on earth to spread His message as we must have read is various scriptures of At-taura, Injila, Zabura and the holy Qur’an.
One of the first major miracles decreed by Allah is the creation of man “ADAM” from clay and the consequent creation of Hauwa “EVE” from part of Adam. After the creation, Allah breathe souls into them, and gave them sense of reasoning. No matter the advancement of technology, it can never, come close to the ultimate capabilities of Allah (SWT), like producing a camera as good as the human eye, brains of a human, natural air, global brightness of the sun and moon, talk more of a breathing soul into a creation. Allahu Akbar! He said: "OAdam! tell them their natures."When he had told them, God said:"Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?" (Quran 2:33)
All the Messengers who were appointed by Allah (SWT) and granted Prophethood were just human beings – not Gods or even demi-Gods – and were sent down for the sole purpose of directing mankind. Every Prophet was a role model for mankind, in terms of their impeccable character, righteous actions, their strong and unyielding faith and their dedication to Allah’s (SWT) cause. Hence, in order to succeed in their missions, Allah (SWT) bestowed them with miracles – which served as the Prophet’s means of validation of the truthfulness of their messages.
Given that the purpose of the miracle was to get people to believe in the power of Allah (SWT) and in the fact that nothing can happen without His permission, it was pertinent that the nature of the miracle would, in essence, surpass even the most advanced level of knowledge present at that particular time in history. Therefore, Allah (SWT) made sure His miracles were attuned for the population they were being sent for, i.e. the miracle itself was customized as such that the people would be able to understand it, integrate it and believe in it.
Let us look into the example of Prophet Musa (AS). During his Prophethood, the society was ridden with witchcraft and sorcery, hence, Prophet Musa’s (AS) miracles were of similar nature; the turning of his walking stick into a snake which swallowed all the false entities of the Pharaoh’s magicians. The magicians, who were well versed in deception and illusion, understood at once that Prophet Musa’s (AS) actions could be nothing but a miracle and once they realized it, the magicians fell down in prostration for they could not disregard the truth of Allah’s (SWT) power.
“They said, "O Moses, either you throw [your staff], or we will be the ones to throw [first]. He said, "Throw," and when they threw, they bewitched the eyes of the people and struck terror into them, and they presented a great [feat of] magic. And We inspired to Moses, "Throw your staff," and at once it devoured what they were falsifying. So the truth was established, and abolished was what they were doing. And Pharaoh and his people were overcome right there and became debased. And the magicians fell down in prostration [to Allah].” (Quran 7:115-120)
The above verse makes it abundantly clear that witchcraft/magic, sorcery, wizardry, soothsaying and so on of whatever nature and however beautiful it may seem can never be equated to “Mu’jiza” miracle decreed by Allah (SWT).
To start with, a miracle is something stupendously out of the ordinary and something that defies all worldly laws and it only occurs by the Will of Allah (SWT). It results in nothing but goodness and it cannot be undone or reversed. Witchcraft, on the other hand, is carried out according to the forbidden laws learned by the one who practices witchcraft. In some cases it yields short term goodness but on the long run it only causes harm, destruction and in extreme cases they cause the wrath of Allah (SWT). However, magic can be reversed with the help of the Holy Quran.
Secondly, karamah is something extraordinary that comes about by the Will of Allah (SWT) but it happens at the hand of a beloved servant of Allah (SWT) who is deeply righteous and is deeply loved by Him. It is meant for one who is close to Allah (SWT) and is not a Prophet. It is believed that Karamah can only occur for a person who lives his/her life in full accordance to the Sharia’h and Islamic teachings. The Karamah may be in the form of knowledge, power, speech, miraculous incidents etc. Just as the mu’jizah is something meant for the entire world to witness and to benefit from, the Karamah is something which only benefits the person it is meant for – it is something personal. The Karamah itself may just be a test for the individual as it could be a blessing if properly used and could be a curse if abused. An example of the Karamah being bestowed on a believer can be given in reference to Maryam (AS), the mother of Isah (AS):
“So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?" She said, "It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account." (Quran 3:37)
So also we can see the Karama of raising a child that Allah bestowed upon Luqman, as seen in
“We bestowed (in the past) wisdom on Luqman: “Show (thy) gratitude to Allah. “Any who is (so) grateful does so to the profit of his own soul: but if any is ungrateful, verily Allah is free of all wants, Worthy of all praise. 13. Behold, Luqman said to his son by way of instruction: ” 0 my son! Join not in worship (others) with Allah: for false worship is indeed the highest wrongdoing.” 14. And we have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents: in travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in years twain was his weaning: (hear the command),”Show gratitude to me and to thy parents: to Me is (thy final) Goal. 15. ” But if they strive to make thee join in worship with Me things of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not; yet bear them company in this life with justice (and consideration), and follow the way of those who tum to Me (in love): in the End the return of you all is to Me, and I will tell you the truth (and meaning) of all that ye did.” 16. ” 0 my son!” (said Luqman), ” If there be (but) the weight of a mustard-seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (anywhere) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah understands the finest mysteries, (and) is wellacquainted (with them). 17. ” 0 my son! establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whate’er betide thee; for this is fmnness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs. 18. “And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster. 19. “And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass.” (Quran 31:12-19)
However, the biggest miracle of all is the Holy book of Allah (SWT), the Holy Quran itself. It is a testament to the ultimate truth, the Oneness of Allah (SWT) and it serves as an eternal example of Allah’s (SWT) power, authority, and wisdom. It is unparalleled and there is no book which can ever compare to its perfection. It is, indeed, a living miracle bestowed by Allah’s (SWT) on our beloved Holy Prophet (PBUH) and it remains, to this day and will remain till the end of time, the biggest miracle of all.
Narrated by Abu Huraira: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Every Prophet was given miracles because of which people believed, but what I have been given, is Divine Inspiration which Allah has revealed to me. So I hope that my followers will outnumber the followers of the other Prophets on the Day of Resurrection." (Bukhari 4981)
It is the only book without any ambiguity or self-contradictions. Another angle to its authenticity is the fact that it is a book of signs and science. Until recently, great men of the world said the world was roundly shaped, they only discovered how the process of reproduction happens. This and many more the Qur’an has blessed us with its knowledge 1400years ago
Miracles exist and they are real. They are not superficial pieces of imagination – they have been occurring since the start of time and they stand as a testament to the power of Allah (SWT). To deny His miracles and the miracles sent down through His Messengers is to deny Him.