Some people object that the miracles attributed to the Holy Prophet ﷺ were not real but stories, which have no truth and reason does not accept these extraordinary events.
First Point
A miracle is said to be an event occurring by the hand of a prophet which does not happen under normal circumstances, and therefore reason finds it difficult to accept.
The purpose of these miracles is to invite those who do not believe in the prophets to reflect and to present evidence of the prophet’s truthfulness because the prophet is sent by Allah Almighty, and Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, is capable of everything. Thus, sound reason does not consider the occurrence of miracles impossible because a miracle happens by the hand of a prophet but solely by the will and power of Allah Almighty. And Allah Almighty says:
اِنَّ اللّه عَلى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:20)
Translation: Indeed, Allah is capable of all things.
A person who acknowledges the greatness and sovereignty of Allah Almighty, and His complete power, can easily comprehend the reality of miracles.
If miracles were within the Prophet's control, then there were certain challenges that the disbelievers of Mecca demanded, but the Noble Prophet ﷺ's response is stated in the Holy Quran:
قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيْ هَلْ كُنْتُ اِلَّا بَشَرًا رَّسُوْلًا
Reference: (Al-Isra:93)
Translation: You say, "My Lord is pure; I am only a human being sent as a messenger."
Regarding the knowledge of the Day of Judgment and other matters, the Noble Prophet ﷺ clearly denied having control over them in his own words.
Reference: (Al-An'am:50, Al-A'raf:187)
Second point
The Holy Prophet ﷺ was not the first prophet from whom miracles were manifested; rather, before him ﷺ, there were prophets to whom Allah Almighty granted miracles, and these have been mentioned in the Holy Quran and Hadith. Therefore, the continuity of miracles being manifested by other prophets also weakens the objection of the critics, because this objection would only be valid if miracles had been manifested solely through you ﷺ. Rather, it is part of Allah Almighty’s system of Shariah that every prophet is granted a miracle corresponding to the nature of matters that were prevalent among their people. For example, the people of Musa (Moses) عليه السلام were influenced by magic, so a miracle of that nature was granted to Sayyiduna Musa. The people of Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام had special knowledge of medicine, so miracles of that nature were granted to Sayyiduna Isa. The Holy Prophet ﷺ came among a people who were skilled in the eloquence and rhetoric of the Arabic language, so a miracle of that nature, the Divine Word, the Holy Quran, was granted.
Third Point
The miracles of the Holy Prophet ﷺ are an established fact, mentioned in the Holy Quran, Hadith, and authentic historical books. For example, the defeat of Rome
Reference: (Ar-Rum: 1-3)
, a brief mention of Isra and Mi'raj in the Holy Quran:
Reference: (Al-Isra: 1, An-Najm: 12-18)
, the event of the splitting of the moon, meaning the moon splitting into two pieces
Reference: (Al-Qamar: 1-5)
, a small amount of food being sufficient for an entire army
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari 3070, 4102; Sahih Muslim: 2039)
, water flowing from the fingers of the Prophet ﷺ
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 3572, Sahih Muslim: 2279)
, the date palm trunk crying during the separation from the Prophet ﷺ
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari: 3583-3585)
, a stone greeting the Prophet ﷺ in Makkah
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2277)
, and many other miracles that occurred by the permission of Allah Almighty through the hands of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. The people of faith have complete belief in these, and neither do these events contradict their intellect nor do they appear impossible scientifically.Fourth Point
The number of miracles of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is more than one thousand, as Ibn Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, explicitly stated in "إغاثة اللهفان”
Reference: (2/691)
. Some of these miracles have occurred and ended, while others will remain as long as Allah Almighty wills. Among them, one is the greatest miracle of the Prophet ﷺ, and it is also the greatest proof of the prophethood of the Prophet ﷺ, and that is the Holy Quran. Its verses will remain forever, and no kind of change or alteration will occur in them. The scholars have written numerous books about the miracles of the Prophet ﷺ, for example, Imam Bayhaqi's book "دلائل النبوۃ”, likewise Imam Mawardi's book: "اعلام النبوۃ”. Also, the chapters on believing in the messengers in books of creed are filled with mention of this.
