Miracles of Muhammad

Miracles of Muhammad are miraculous claims attributed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

History

Several Quranic verses highlight instances where Muhammad's contemporaries challenged him to validate his prophetic claims by demanding that he demonstrate phenomena that defied the ordinary course of nature, such as causing a fountain to gush from the ground, creating a lush garden with flowing rivers, manifesting a golden house, or delivering a readable book from heaven.^{[Quran 1]}^{[Quran 2]}^[1]^[2]

However, Muhammad refused to fulfill any of those challenges, reasoning that prophets could not produce a sign without God's authorization.^{[Quran 3]}^{[Quran 4]}^{[Quran 5]}^[1] He argued that the regularities of nature already served as sufficient proof of God's majesty^{[Quran 6]}^[2] and contended that miracles were pointless because they had not prevented past civilizations from rejecting their own prophets.^{[Quran 7]}^[1]^[3] He maintained that he served solely as a warner^{[Quran 8]} and underscored that the Qur'an alone was adequate for his opponents.^{[Quran 9]}^[1]^[2]

Nevertheless, after Muhammad's death, several devout Muslims who were dissatisfied with their prophet's lack of miracles—partly due to their arguments with Christians—decided to attribute a range of superhuman qualities to him in post-Qur'anic texts such as the Hadith and the Sira.^[4]^[5]^[6] For some parts, they also relied on ambiguous Qur'anic verses that they then developed into elaborate narratives. Notably, the Quranic verses 53:1-2, which originally forecast a forthcoming event linked to the Day of Judgment based on a sighting of a lunar eclipse, were ultimately transformed by them into a historical miracle, the splitting of the moon.^[7]^[8]

List of miracles

Contrary to those of biblical prophets, claims of miracles attributed to Muhammad are not consistently incorporated into a cohesive life narrative. Some collections simply list these miracles, primarily aiming to showcase that Muhammad performed miracles similar to earlier prophets, particularly Jesus, rather than delving into doctrinal aspects or interpreting specific life events. One example is a book by the 12th-century Islamic scholar al-Ghazali titled Ihya' 'ulum ad-din (The Revival of the Science of Religion) which provides the following list of Muhammad's miracles:^[9]

Quran – The revelation of the Quran is considered by Muslims to be Muhammad's greatest miracle^[10]^[11]^[12] and a miracle for all times, unlike the miracles of other prophets, which were confined to being witnessed in their own lifetimes.^[13]
Scientific miracles: The theory of the scientific miracle of the Qur'an claims that the Qur'an has a miracle in expressing some scientific material (some modern scientific discoveries that were unknown at the time of writing the Qur'an). The history of writing in connection with the science and religion of Islam dates back to the works of Ibn Sina, Fakhr al-Razi, and Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, but has increased significantly in recent times. Authors in this field include Naeem Al-Mohassi, Maurice Bucaille, Rafiei Mohammadi, Mostarhameh, Makarem Shirazi and Rezaei Isfahani. These interpretations state that some verses of the Qur'an reflect prophetic statements about the nature and structure of the universe, physics, fetal biological growth, biological evolution, geology, mountain structure, and other phenomena that have been later confirmed by scientific research. This group of Quran-commentators present this as a proof of the divinity of the Qur'an.^[14]^[15]^[16]
Splitting of the Moon; While standing on the Mount Abu Qubays, Muhammad splits the moon into two parts.^{[Hadith 1]}
Isra and Mi'raj (Night Journey); occurring in 621, in which Muhammad leads the prayers to previous prophets in Al-Aqsa.^{[Hadith 2]}
Radd al-Shams: According to tradition, Muhammad asked God to return the sun to its position before the sunset, so that Ali could have enough time to say his Asr prayer.^[17]
The events which occurred during his Hijrah (migration from Mecca to Medina):
- The blindness of the Qurashite warriors who assembled at his door to assassinate him. He sprinkled a handful of dust at the assassins as he recited the 9th verse of Surah Ya Sin and went away without being seen by them.^[18]
- It was then that Allah gave permission to Muhammad to migrate.^[19]
He used to heal the sick and cure the blind by only spitting or blowing on the patient.^{[Hadith 3]}^{[Hadith 4]}^{[Hadith 5]}
According to Ali ibn Sahl Rabban al-Tabari, Muhammad's success and victory against his enemies was one of his miracles.^[20] Similarly, many modern Muslim historians believe Muhammad's greatest miracles were his worldly accomplishments, in a short time span, in various fields (such as the religious, social, proselytising, political, military and literary spheres) and "the transformation of the Arabs from marauding bands of nomads into world conquerors."^[21]^[22]
The day Muhammad came to Medina, everything there became illuminated, and the day he died, everything in Medina became dark.^{[Hadith 6]}^{[Hadith 7]}^{[Hadith 8]}
- When Muhammad and Abu Bakr migrated to Medina, Suraqa bin Malik pursued them. When they realized they were discovered, Muhammad looked at Suraqa so his horse sank into the earth. Suraqa then begged Muhammad to rescue him, and Muhammad prayed to Allah for him; hence he was saved.^{[Hadith 9]}^{[Hadith 10]}^{[Hadith 11]}^{[Hadith 12]}
Prophecies made by him. This includes:
- Muhammad telling his companion and Uthman, that a calamity would befall him, which would be followed with his entering paradise; this eventuated during Uthman's Caliphate.^{[Hadith 13]}^[23]
- He told his companion, Ammar ibn Yasir, that the unjust party would kill him; this eventuated during the First Fitna.^{[Hadith 14]}^[23]
- He prophesied to Suraqa bin Malik that he would wear the bracelets of Kosroe.
- He said that Allah would make peace between two large Muslim groups through his grandson Hasan ibn Ali; this eventuated with the Hasan–Muawiya treaty.^{[Hadith 15]}^[23]
- He said that a man who was apparently fighting for the Muslim cause would actually be of the people of Hell; this was proven when the man committed suicide in order to remove his suffering following a wound in battle.^{[Hadith 16]}^[23]
- He said that he would kill one of the enemies of the Muslims, Ubay ibn Khalaf, which he achieved at the Battle of Uhud.^{[Hadith 17]}^[24]
- Before the Battle of Badr, he showed exactly where each of the enemy chiefs would be killed; they all died in the exact locations stated.^[24]
- He said that his daughter Fatimah would be the first of his family to die after him; which eventuated.^{[Hadith 18]}^[24]
On several occasions he provided food and water supernaturally.^[25]
He quenched the thirst of thousands of his soldiers during the Battle of Tabouk and enabled them to use water for ablution after causing water to pour forth.^[23]^[25]
He caused two trees to move at his command.^[25]
He caused a well to swell with water after he rinsed his mouth with some water and then threw it out into the well. This was during the event of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, enabling his followers with him to drink and use the water for ablution.^{[Hadith 19]}
He threw a handful of dust at some of the enemy during the Battle of Hunain, causing them to be blinded.^{[Quran 10]}^[23]
He caused Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud to convert to Islam after he made a barren ewe, which produced no milk, to produce milk.^[24]
He used his saliva to cure Ali's sick eye, during the Battle of Khaybar, and it became healthy.^{[Hadith 20]}^[26]
His companions would hear the food before him praising Allah.^{[Hadith 21]}^[26]
He caused it to rain during a drought in Medina.^{[Hadith 22]}^[27]
His prayers were instantly answered.^{[Hadith 23]}
Stones and trees used to greet him before and during his prophethood.^{[Hadith 24]}^{[Hadith 25]}
He used to understand the language of animals.^{[Hadith 26]}^{[Hadith 27]}
He comforted a palm tree that was crying and upset after he stopped leaning on it during his sermons.^{[Hadith 28]}
He had The Seal of Prophethood (Khatam an-Nabiyyin) between his shoulders, specifically on the end of his left shoulder blade, It is depicted as a mole, in size compared to the egg of a partridge or to a pigeon's egg and its color was the same as that of Muhammad's body.^{[Hadith 29]}^{[Hadith 30]}^{[Hadith 31]}^{[Hadith 32]}^{[Hadith 33]} It is believed that each prophet sent by Allah had this Seal on a certain part of his body.^[28]
It is reported, that Muhammad did not cast a shadow, interpreted as a sign of his "light".^[29]
When Muhammad ascended Mount Uhud and he was accompanied by Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman. The mountain shook beneath them. Muhammad then hit it with his foot and said, "O Uhud! Be firm, for upon you there is none but a Prophet, a supporter of truth and two martyrs."^{[Hadith 34]}^{[Hadith 35]}^{[Hadith 36]}^{[Hadith 37]}^{[Hadith 38]}
The same event occurred on Jabal al-Nour in Mecca.^{[Hadith 39]}^{[Hadith 40]}^{[Hadith 41]}^{[Hadith 42]}^{[Hadith 43]}
Muhammad used to hear the voices of persons who were being tortured in their graves.^{[Hadith 44]}^{[Hadith 45]}
When Abu Jahl was going to trample Muhammad's neck or smear his face with dust as he was engaged in prayer, Abu Jahl came near him but turned upon his heels and tried to repulse something with his hands. It was said to him: "What is the matter with you?" He said: "There is between me and him. A ditch of fire and terror and wings." Thereupon Muhammad said: "If he were to come near me the angels would have torn him to pieces."^{[Hadith 46]}
He used to speak to the dead and hear them. It also occurred with the bodies of the enemy chiefs after the Battle of Badr in the presence of his companions.^{[Hadith 47]}^{[Hadith 48]}^{[Hadith 49]}

Interpretations

Sunni views

According to the consensus of Sunni scholars, rejecting a single letter of the Qur'an or a hadith which is mutawatir causes one to become a non-Muslim. Belief in the miracles of Muhammad in the Qur'an and in hadith which are transmitted by mutawatir are obligatory.^[30]^[31]^[32]^[33]

Views on Muslim views

American scholar of Islam Marcia Hermansen states that "Miracles in the Islamic tradition play less of an evidentiary role than in some other religions since the prophet Muhammad's humanity is stressed."^[34]

References

Quran Primary Sources

^ Q 17:90–3
^ see also Q 74:52
^ Q 13:38
^ Q 14:11
^ Q 40:78
^ Q 10:5-6
^ Q 17:59
^ Q 29:50
^ Q 29:51
^ [[Al-Anfal|]] 8:17

Hadith Primary Sources

Other Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Brockopp 2010, p. 45.
^ ^a ^b ^c Phipps 2016, p. 40.
^ McAuliffe 2003, p. 397.
^ Buhl & Welch 1993, p. 375.
^ Peters 2010, p. 204.
^ Wensinck 1993, p. 295.
^ Brockopp 2010, p. 39–40, 44.
^ Peters 2010, p. 205.
^ Woodward 2001, p. 185.
^ Ibrāhīm, Zaynab; Aydelott, Sabiha T.; Kassabgy, Nagwa, eds. (1 Jan 2000). Diversity in Language: Contrastive Studies in Arabic and English Theoretical and Applied Linguistics (illustrated ed.). American Univ in Cairo Press. p. 31. ISBN 9789774245787.
^ David Whitten Smith; Elizabeth Geraldine Burr (21 Aug 2014). Understanding World Religions: A Road Map for Justice and Peace (2 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 142. ISBN 9781442226449.
^ Brown, Brian Arthur, ed. (1 Jan 2014). Three Testaments: Torah, Gospel, and Quran (illustrated, reprint ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 403. ISBN 9781442214934.
^ Edward Sell (5 Nov 2013). The Faith of Islam. Routledge. p. 218. ISBN 9781136391699.
^ Ahmad Dallal, Quran and science, Encyclopedia of the Qur'an
^ رضایی اصفهانی، محمد علی. «حركات خورشید و اعجاز علمی قرآن». دریافت‌شده در ۱۸ ژوئن ۲۰۲۰.
^ Moore, Keith L. (1986-06-25). "A Scientist's Interpretation of References to Embryology in the Qur'an". Journal of the Islamic Medical Association of North America. 18 (1). doi:10.5915/18-1-8693 – via Open Journal Systems 3.3.0.18.
^ "Radd al-Shams". Encyclopedia of Islamic World.
^ al-Mubarakpuri, Safiur-Rahman (2002). The Sealed Nectar (Ar-Raheequl Makhtum). Darussalam. p. 169. ISBN 9781591440710.
^ The life of Muhammad by Ibn Ishaq: Muhammad's hijra.
^ Laurence Edward Browne (1933). The Eclipse of Christianity in Asia: From the Time of Muhammad Till the Fourteenth Century. Cambridge University Press Archive. p. 90.
^ Daniel W. Brown (4 Mar 1999). Rethinking Tradition in Modern Islamic Thought (reprint, revised ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 65. ISBN 9780521653947.
^ Patricia Blundell; Trevor Jordan (7 Mar 2012). Exploring Religion and Ethics: Religion and Ethics for Senior Secondary Students. Cambridge University Press. pp. 129–30. ISBN 9780521187169.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Kenneth L. Woodward (10 Jul 2001). The Book of Miracles: The Meaning of the Miracle Stories in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam (reprint ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 186. ISBN 9780743200295.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Kenneth L. Woodward (10 Jul 2001). The Book of Miracles: The Meaning of the Miracle Stories in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam (reprint ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 188. ISBN 9780743200295.
^ ^a ^b ^c Leaman, Oliver, ed. (2006). The Qur'an: An Encyclopedia (illustrated, reprint, annotated ed.). Taylor & Francis. p. 423. ISBN 9780415326391.
^ ^a ^b Kenneth L. Woodward (2001). The Book of Miracles: The Meaning of the Miracle Stories in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam (reprint ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 189. ISBN 978-0743200295.
^ Kenneth L. Woodward (10 Jul 2001). The Book of Miracles: The Meaning of the Miracle Stories in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam (reprint ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 197–8. ISBN 9780743200295.
^ al-Suyūṭī, Abū al-Faḍl. Al-Khasais-ul-Kubra. pp. 1/103.
^ Lālana Śāha City of Mirrors Oxford University Press 2017 ISBN 978-0-190-68022-0 page 524
^ "Establishing Matters of Aqidah With Hadith Ahad". SeekersGuidance. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
^ Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, Yusuf. Al-Tamhîd limâ fîl-Muwatta' min al-Ma'ânî wal-Asânîd. pp. Volume 1, page 142, and Volume 4, page 266. ISBN 9789777710473.
^ al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid. Faysal al-tafriqah bayna al-Islam wa-al-zandaqah (in Arabic). 'Īsá al-Bābī al-Ḥalabī. p. 144. OCLC 977737394.
^ "Denying the Mutawaatir Hadeeth - Islamweb - Fatwas". www.islamweb.net. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
^ Marcia Hermansen (2004). Martin, Richard C. (ed.). Encyclopedia or Islam and the Muslim World. MacMillan Reference USA. p. 454.

Bibliography

Buhl, F.; Welch, A.T. (1993). "Muḥammad". Encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. 7 (2nd ed.). Brill. pp. 360–376. ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.
Wensinck, A. J. (1993). "Mu'djiza". Encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. 7 (2nd ed.). Brill. p. 295. ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.
Brockopp, Jonathan E., ed. (2010). The Cambridge Companion to Muhammad. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-88607-9.
Peters, F. E. (2010). Jesus and Muhammad: Parallel Tracks, Parallel Lives. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-978004-4.
McAuliffe, Jane Dammen, ed. (2003-10-15). Encyclopaedia of the Qur'ān: Volume Three (1st ed.). Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-12354-0.
Phipps, William E. (6 October 2016). Muhammad and Jesus: A Comparison of the Prophets and Their Teachings. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4742-8935-1.
Woodward, Kenneth L. (2001). The Book of Miracles: The Meaning of the Miracle Stories in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam (reprint ed.). Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780743200295.