✦ The Reality of Miracles and Science, and Responses to Objections ✦
✍ By: Zeeshan Waraich
When mankind began to focus on understanding and utilizing the material world for its benefit, new objections against religions emerged. As a result, Muslims faced a variety of challenges:
◈ Some compromised on the foundations of their faith.
◈ Others suffered from a lack of self-confidence.
The root cause of this situation was unfamiliarity with modern scientific knowledge and a deficiency in self-assurance, whereas scientific experts had great confidence in their intellectual standing.
Before answering this question, it is essential to understand the nature of miracles, Karamat (extraordinary acts by saints), and science.
When Prophets (عليهم السلام) claimed prophethood, people demanded proof. Although the character, message, and lifestyle of the Prophets themselves were a form of evidence, for some, this was not sufficient. Therefore, such extraordinary events were manifested through the Prophets which were impossible according to natural laws.
Examples:
However, such miracles are not mentioned for all Prophets—like Nūḥ, Hūd, and Lūṭ (عليهم السلام).
These are miracles that appeared by the command of Allah for the aid of His Prophets.
Examples:
These miracles were not the result of any Prophet’s personal will but occurred solely by Allah’s command.
Some miracles fall into both categories, such as the fire becoming cool upon Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام).
Karamat are supernatural events that occur at the hands of non-prophets. Since non-prophets do not need to establish prophethood, these acts are limited to the second type—divine assistance.
Modern science is based on observation and experimentation. For scientific validity, it is essential that:
✔ Observations and experiments must be repeatable to confirm results.
✔ Future predictions must be possible based on these experiments.
Some fundamental assumptions of science include:
These principles are essential for scientific progress but are not absolute truths—merely working assumptions.
Science relies on inductive reasoning, i.e., deriving general laws from limited observations. However, this approach has limitations:
Example: Newton presented the law of gravity, but Einstein’s research showed that this law is limited. His General Theory of Relativity offered a more accurate explanation—yet it too remains incomplete due to its contradiction with quantum physics.
Scientific theories and laws are not final. With time and the advancement of technology, older theories are replaced by new ones.
There are two viewpoints on miracles:
✔ Miracles align with natural laws, but we are unaware of those laws.
Example: Even if a scientific explanation were found for Mūsā (عليه السلام) parting the sea, the precise timing of the event is only explained by the will of Allah, which is a moral—not scientific—argument.
✔ Miracles deviate from natural laws.
Believing that every atom in the universe always follows the laws of nature is a scientific assumption—not an absolute truth.
Miracles do not fall within the domain of experimental science, because Prophets never claimed they could reproduce miracles at will. Thus, proving miracles through scientific testing is meaningless.
The foundation of belief in miracles is the conviction that Allah is All-Powerful. Even the laws of nature are His creation, and He can alter them whenever He wills.
In this era, the message of Islam is presented on the basis of the Qur'an, which appeals to human intellect, aesthetics, and moral consciousness. The Qur'an calls toward belief in the unseen (Īmān bil-Ghayb), which is essential for receiving guidance.
Miracles now serve as articles of belief, not the basis for propagation.
They only temporarily lift the veil from the unseen, but guidance requires faith in the unseen.
✔ In the modern age, the propagation of Islam is based on intellect and consciousness, not miracles.
✔ Scientific knowledge is limited and does not encompass all truths.
✔ A scientific explanation of miracles is unnecessary, as science itself is inherently uncertain.
✔ Miracles do not fall within the realm of experimental science, as their nature and purpose differ entirely.
✍ By: Zeeshan Waraich
❖ Objections on Religion and the Modern Era
When mankind began to focus on understanding and utilizing the material world for its benefit, new objections against religions emerged. As a result, Muslims faced a variety of challenges:
◈ Some compromised on the foundations of their faith.
◈ Others suffered from a lack of self-confidence.
The root cause of this situation was unfamiliarity with modern scientific knowledge and a deficiency in self-assurance, whereas scientific experts had great confidence in their intellectual standing.
❖ Question: Do Miracles Align with Science?
Before answering this question, it is essential to understand the nature of miracles, Karamat (extraordinary acts by saints), and science.
✿ Types of Miracles
➊ Miracles as Proofs of Prophethood
When Prophets (عليهم السلام) claimed prophethood, people demanded proof. Although the character, message, and lifestyle of the Prophets themselves were a form of evidence, for some, this was not sufficient. Therefore, such extraordinary events were manifested through the Prophets which were impossible according to natural laws.
Examples:
- Miracles of ʿĪsā (عليه السلام)
- The she-camel of Ṣāliḥ (عليه السلام)
- The parting of the sea by Mūsā (عليه السلام)
However, such miracles are not mentioned for all Prophets—like Nūḥ, Hūd, and Lūṭ (عليهم السلام).
➋ Miracles for the Assistance of Prophets
These are miracles that appeared by the command of Allah for the aid of His Prophets.
Examples:
- The event of Miʿrāj
- Divine assistance during the Battle of Badr and in the Cave of Thawr
These miracles were not the result of any Prophet’s personal will but occurred solely by Allah’s command.
➌ Combined Miracles
Some miracles fall into both categories, such as the fire becoming cool upon Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام).
❖ The Reality of Karamat (Extraordinary Acts of Saints)
Karamat are supernatural events that occur at the hands of non-prophets. Since non-prophets do not need to establish prophethood, these acts are limited to the second type—divine assistance.
❖ The Nature of Science
➊ Scope of Science
Modern science is based on observation and experimentation. For scientific validity, it is essential that:
✔ Observations and experiments must be repeatable to confirm results.
✔ Future predictions must be possible based on these experiments.
➋ Scientific Assumptions
Some fundamental assumptions of science include:
- Matter and energy can neither be created nor destroyed; they only change form.
- The universe is a closed system, meaning everything that happens has a cause within the universe.
These principles are essential for scientific progress but are not absolute truths—merely working assumptions.
➌ Inductive Reasoning and Its Problems
Science relies on inductive reasoning, i.e., deriving general laws from limited observations. However, this approach has limitations:
- Drawing final conclusions from limited data can be flawed.
- Deriving results without understanding the cause behind an experiment can be misleading.
Example: Newton presented the law of gravity, but Einstein’s research showed that this law is limited. His General Theory of Relativity offered a more accurate explanation—yet it too remains incomplete due to its contradiction with quantum physics.
➍ The Uncertainty of Science
Scientific theories and laws are not final. With time and the advancement of technology, older theories are replaced by new ones.
❖ Miracles and Science
➊ Is Scientific Explanation of Miracles Necessary?
There are two viewpoints on miracles:
✔ Miracles align with natural laws, but we are unaware of those laws.
Example: Even if a scientific explanation were found for Mūsā (عليه السلام) parting the sea, the precise timing of the event is only explained by the will of Allah, which is a moral—not scientific—argument.
✔ Miracles deviate from natural laws.
Believing that every atom in the universe always follows the laws of nature is a scientific assumption—not an absolute truth.
➋ Can Miracles Be Reproduced Through Scientific Experimentation?
Miracles do not fall within the domain of experimental science, because Prophets never claimed they could reproduce miracles at will. Thus, proving miracles through scientific testing is meaningless.
➌ Fundamental Errors in Objections Against Miracles
- Considering scientific discoveries as absolute truth.
- Trying to confine all forms of knowledge within the scope of science.
➍ Foundation of Belief in Miracles
The foundation of belief in miracles is the conviction that Allah is All-Powerful. Even the laws of nature are His creation, and He can alter them whenever He wills.
❖ Miracles and Islamic Propagation
➊ Qur'an: The Living Miracle of the Prophet ﷺ
In this era, the message of Islam is presented on the basis of the Qur'an, which appeals to human intellect, aesthetics, and moral consciousness. The Qur'an calls toward belief in the unseen (Īmān bil-Ghayb), which is essential for receiving guidance.
➋ The Contemporary Status of Miracles
Miracles now serve as articles of belief, not the basis for propagation.
They only temporarily lift the veil from the unseen, but guidance requires faith in the unseen.
✦ Conclusion ✦
✔ In the modern age, the propagation of Islam is based on intellect and consciousness, not miracles.
✔ Scientific knowledge is limited and does not encompass all truths.
✔ A scientific explanation of miracles is unnecessary, as science itself is inherently uncertain.
✔ Miracles do not fall within the realm of experimental science, as their nature and purpose differ entirely.
