Muhammads Miracles: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|{{Quran|3|138}}|They (also) said: "Allah took our promise not to believe in an messenger unless He showed us a sacrifice consumed by Fire (From heaven)." Say: "There came to you messengers before me, with clear Signs and even with what ye ask for: why then did ye slay them, if ye speak the truth?" if you are truthful?}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|3|138}}|They (also) said: "Allah took our promise not to believe in an messenger unless He showed us a sacrifice consumed by Fire (From heaven)." Say: "There came to you messengers before me, with clear Signs and even with what ye ask for: why then did ye slay them, if ye speak the truth?" if you are truthful?}} | ||
The unbelievers asked Muhammad to perform a miracle so that they too could believe. All they | The unbelievers asked Muhammad to perform a miracle so that they too could believe. All they received in response was, | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|17|90}}|They say: "We shall not believe in thee, until thou cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth,}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|17|90}}|They say: "We shall not believe in thee, until thou cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth,}} | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran-range|25|7|8}}| And they say: "What sort of a messenger is this, who eats food, and walks through the streets? Why has not an angel been sent down to him to give admonition with him? "Or (Why) has not a treasure been bestowed on him, or why has he (not) a garden for enjoyment?" The wicked say: "Ye follow none other than a man bewitched."}} | {{Quote|{{Quran-range|25|7|8}}| And they say: "What sort of a messenger is this, who eats food, and walks through the streets? Why has not an angel been sent down to him to give admonition with him? "Or (Why) has not a treasure been bestowed on him, or why has he (not) a garden for enjoyment?" The wicked say: "Ye follow none other than a man bewitched."}} | ||
But Muhammad kept telling them that he is just an ordinary man, not an angel, meaning people should not expect miracles from him | But Muhammad kept telling them that he is just an ordinary man, not an angel, meaning people should not expect miracles from him: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|17|95}}|Say: Had there been in the earth angels walking about as settlers, We would certainly have sent down to them from the heaven an angel as a messenger.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|17|95}}|Say: Had there been in the earth angels walking about as settlers, We would certainly have sent down to them from the heaven an angel as a messenger.}} |
Revision as of 09:56, 4 December 2014
This article analyzes the Muslim belief that Prophet Muhammad was able to perform miracles.
Introduction
While there are some Muslims who will say Muhammad's only miracle was the revelation of the Qur'an, the so-called "Moon splitting miracle" and other lesser-known miracles are widely believed by Muslims.
Are these beliefs genuine Islamic beliefs, or are they simply the attempts of Muhammad's followers to compete with the variety of miracles attributed to the founders of earlier faiths?
Miracles
Moon Splitting Miracle
And if they see a miracle they turn aside and say: Transient magic.
And they call (it) a lie, and follow their low desires; and every affair has its appointed term.Syed Abu-Ala' Maududi
Water Creation Miracle
Multiplied Bread Miracle
Analysis
Bukhari's criteria
When dealing with sahih hadith narrations, the burden of proof is always on the person who claims a certain narration is not authentic to provide the evidence for why they consider it to be not authentic.
Imam Bukhari came up with three criteria which he used to determine whether or not a narration was sahih or not. His third criteria is regarding mat'n (text), i.e. the text/content of a narration must not be in contradiction with the Qur'an. The only exception to this rule is the narrations regarded by scholars to be Qudsi (narrations which contain non-Qur'anic words from Allah).
Hadith Evidence
When challenged by skeptics, the hadith record that Muhammad denied being able to perform any miracles. He admitted that although other prophets before him were given the power of performing miracles, his only miracle was the Qur'an:
Qur'anic Evidence
Reaffirming the previous hadith, in the following verse Muhammad is acknowledging that other prophets before him came with miracles or clear signs but still people rejected them, highlighting the futility of miracles as the proof of his revelation:
The unbelievers asked Muhammad to perform a miracle so that they too could believe. All they received in response was,
And he would reply:
People doubted Muhammad due to seeing nothing extraordinary or miraculous in him:
But Muhammad kept telling them that he is just an ordinary man, not an angel, meaning people should not expect miracles from him:
Common sense dictates that no one would deny and call a man who performs such mighty miracles a “mad man” or “possessed”. But the people who knew him actually called him by these names:
No one would demand him miracles if he had already performed one:
But Muhammad responded:
The Quraishites kept asking for a sign or a miracle to believe and Muhammad kept repeating that he was only a warner:
There are many more ayat that tell the same story. People asking for miracles and him saying “I am just a man, just like you, only a warner”.
Clear proof that Muhammad never performed any miracles is found in the following verse where it says that people rejected even those who came with miracles and clear signs, meaning miracles are not helpful:
In the above verses Muhammad has been denying any supernatural powers. If he could perform the miracles attributed to him in those ahadith, what is the meaning of these verses?
In the following verse he clearly rejects miracles as the proof of prophethood comparing them to witchcraft:
Conclusion
The hadith record that Muhammad denied being able to perform miracles, and an analysis of the Qur'an clearly shows that he had repeatedly done so when confronted by critics. Therefore, according to imam Bukhari's criteria, the narrations which claim miracles on Muhammad's behalf must be discarded.
In a sense, Muhammad was right in emphasizing that the real miracle is his message or the Qur'an, as that is what really counts. Miracles may serve as proof for those who witness them, but mean little to others. But although this is a valid principle, the Qur'an fails to deliver. It is no miracle at all, but a book full of errors and inconsistencies.
See Also
- Moon Split Miracle - A hub page that leads to other articles related to the Moon Split Miracle
- Muhammad's Revelations - A hub page that leads to other articles related to Muhammad's Revelations