Class 3 – Miracles Of The Prophet
MIRACLES OF THE PROPHET ﷺ
A number of miracles were bestowed upon and performed by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to establish the proof of his prophethood. The greatest miracle bestowed upon him was the revelation of the Qur’an.
The Qur’an is miraculous in a number of aspects: It’s linguistic perfection and inimitability, its validation by recent historical, archaeological, and scientific discoveries, its prophecies and so on. Unlike the miracles of other prophets before him, the miracle of the Qur’an is eternal.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also provided us with a number of true prophecies. Which are listed in the Major and Minor signs of Qiyamah. For example, he mentioned a time would come when shepherds will compete in constructing tall buildings. This prophecy is clearly evident for all to observe as it manifests itself in the Arab Gulf today. Until just a century ago, the Arabs in the Gulf region were infact living a more primitive “shepherd” lifestyle, as compared to the rest of the world. This all changed with the arrival of massive oil wealth in the mid 20th century, with much of the resulting wealth being invested in erecting skyscrapers across the region. There are many other similar miracles performed by Muhammad ﷺ throughout his life that attest to his extraordinary connection with Allah and the truth of his Prophethood. However, hearing about these events later isn’t as impactful as experiencing them in person and other prophecies.
Below are accounts of the some of the other miracles of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The Traditions mentioned below are all from Sahih al-Bukhari, the most authentic collection of ahadith.
Splitting of the Moon
“The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder” [Qur’an 54:1]
Narrated Abdullah: The moon was cleft asunder while we were in the company of the Prophet ﷺ, and it became two parts. The Prophet ﷺ said, Witness, witness (this miracle).”
One of the most dramatic miracles took place in Mecca when the disbelievers once challenged Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to perform a miracle. He was inspired by Allah to point to the moon, which split into two completely separate halves. It remained that way for some time, before eventually converging back together.
Food Multiplication
Once one of the companions invited him and a few others to a meal that could feed a small group. The prophet ﷺ accepted the invitation and, to the host’s dismay, called all thousand of his companions to join him in the meal. Yet, Muhammad ﷺ personally served all of them from the small dish until each one ate his fill. In the end, the tray of food remained just as full as it was at the beginning of the meal. This food multiplication had happened many times during his life.
Water Multiplication & Glorification of Allah by the Prophet’s meals
Narrated ‘Abdullah: We used to consider miracles as Allah’s Blessings, but you people consider them to be a warning. Once we were with Allah’s Apostle on a journey, and we ran short of water. He said, “Bring the water remaining with you.” The people brought a utensil containing a little water. He placed his hand in it and said, “Come to the blessed water, and the Blessing is from Allah.” I saw the water flowing from among the fingers of Allah’s Apostle, and no doubt, we heard the meal glorifying Allah, when it was being eaten (by him). Events similar to this also occurred many times during the life of the Prophet ﷺ.
Supplication for Rain
Narrated Anas: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ on a Friday while he (the Prophet ﷺ) was delivering a sermon at Medina, and said, “There is lack of rain, so please invoke your Lord to bless us with the rain.” The Prophet ﷺ looked at the sky when no cloud could be detected. Then he invoked Allah for rain. Clouds started gathering together and it rained till the Medina valleys started flowing with water. It continued raining till the next Friday. Then that man (or some other man) stood up while the Prophet was delivering the Friday sermon, and said, “We are drowned; Please invoke your Lord to withhold it (rain) from us” The Prophet ﷺ smiled and said twice or thrice, “O Allah! Please let it rain round about us and not upon us.” The clouds started dispersing over Medina to the right and to the left, and it rained round about Medina and not upon Medina. Allah showed them (the people) the miracle of His Prophet and His response to his invocation.
Lights to guide Companions
Narrated Anas bin Malik: Two of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ departed from him on a dark night and were led by two lights like lamps (going in front of them from Allah as a miracle) lighting the way in front of them, and when they parted, each of them was accompanied by one of these lights till he reached their (respective) houses.
Crying of the stem of the Date-palm Tree
Narrated Ibn Umar: The Prophet ﷺ used to deliver his sermons while standing beside a trunk of a datepalm. When he had the pulpit made, he used it instead. The trunk started crying and the Prophet went to it, rubbing his hand over it (to stop its crying).
The expulsion of a liar’s corpse by the Earth
Narrated Anas: There was a Christian who embraced Islam and read Surat-al-Baqara and Al-Imran, and he used to write (the revelations) for the Prophet ﷺ. Later on he returned to Christianity again and he used to say: “Muhammad knows nothing but what I have written for him.” Then Allah caused him to die, and the people buried him, but in the morning they saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, “This is the act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and took his body out of it because he had run away from them.” They again dug the grave deeply for him, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, “This is an act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and threw his body outside it, for he had run away from them.” They dug the grave for him as deep as they could, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. So they believed that what had befallen him was not done by human beings and had to leave him thrown (on the ground).
Israa Wal Miraj
Another great miracle is Israa & Miraj which is Prophet Mohammad ﷺ’s journey overnight from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascended to all the seven Heavens. He met with all the previous prophets, including Isa (Jesus) & Musa (Moses) A.S., and he had the honor of being chosen as the leader of a prayer that was attended by all prophets.
Many Prophecies but did he have Knowledge of Unseen?
Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say: ‘None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (unseen) except Allah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected’” [an-Naml 27:65].
This indicates that knowledge of the unseen, in general terms, is something that belongs only to the Knower of the unseen, the Lord of the Worlds. However Allah, may He be exalted, may disclose to whomever He wills of His creation whatever He wills of His unseen. He, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “(He Alone) the All-Knower of the Ghaib (unseen), and He reveals to none His Ghaib (unseen). Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen (He informs him of unseen as much as He likes), and then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him” [al-Jinn 72:26, 27].
Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said: The fact that He, may He be glorified, praised Himself for having knowledge of the unseen, which He has kept to Himself, to the exclusion of His creation, indicates that no one knows the unseen except Him. Then He made an exception in the case of those with whom He is pleased of His Messengers, so He grants them knowledge of whatever He wills of His unseen, by means of revelation to them, which He makes a miracle for them and evidence of the truthfulness of their Prophethood. End quote. [Tafseer al-Qurtubi (19/28)]
Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh (hadeeth no. 4477) that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “Whoever tells you that he knows what will happen tomorrow is lying.” Then she recited, “No person knows what he will earn tomorrow.”
Also Allah, may He be exalted, says:
“Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): I possess no power of benefit or hurt to myself except as Allah wills. If I had the knowledge of the Ghaib (unseen), I should have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil should have touched me. I am but a warner, and a bringer of glad tidings unto people who believe.” [al-A‘raaf 7:188].
Also from a hadeeth it is seen that the noblest of the angelic Messengers, Jibreel, asked the noblest of the human Messengers, Muhammad ﷺ, “Tell me about the Hour.” He ﷺ said: “The one who is asked about it is does not know any more about it than the one who is asking” meaning, just as you have no knowledge of it, I have no knowledge of it either.
Is the Prophet Alive in His Grave
The Prophet ﷺ is alive in his grave in the sense of the life of al-barzakh, so he enjoys the blessings that Allaah has prepared for him as a reward for his great good actions that he did in this world. But the life in the grave is not like the life of this world, or the life in the Hereafter. Rather it is the life of al-barzakh which comes in between his life in this world and his life in the Hereafter. Hence we know that he died as other Prophets and other people before him died. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
- “Verily, you (O Muhammad) will die, and verily, they (too) will die” [al-Zumar 39:30]
- “And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad); then if you die, would they live forever?” [al-Anbiyaa’ 21:34]
The Messenger ﷺ is the best and most perfect of creation, and the most beloved to Allaah and the most honoured by Him. But this does not mean that his human characteristics are to be denied, or that any of the duties of worship which are due only to Allaah should be directed to him. The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was a human being who suffered from sickness and real death the same as any other human being.
The Messenger ﷺ died and was buried in his grave, hence al-Siddeeq Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “And now, he who worships Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Muhammad is dead now. But he who worships Allah, He is Ever Living and He never dies. Allâh says: ‘Muhammad ﷺ is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allâh, and Allâh will give reward to those who are grateful.’ ” [3:144]
Ibn ‘Abbas said: “By Allâh it sounded as if people had never heard such a Qur’aanic verse till Abû Bakr recited it as a reminder. So people started reciting it till there was no man who did not recite it.”
Ibn Al-Musaiyab said that ‘Umar had said: “By Allâh as soon as I heard Abû Bakr say it, I fell down to the ground. I felt as if my legs had been unable to carry me so I collapsed when I heard him say it. Only then did I realize that Muhammad ﷺ had really died.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî, 2/640,641]
Also when the tribulations (fitan) and problems increased during the time of ‘Uthmaan and ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with them both), and before and after that, they did not go to his grave to consult him or ask him for a way out of those tribulations and problems, or the way to solve them. If he had been alive in a worldly sense, they would not have overlooked that when they were in such great need of someone to save them from the trials that surrounded them.
With regard to the soul of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), it is in the highest part of ‘Illiyyeen, because he is the best of creation, and because Allaah has given him al-waseelah which is the highest position in Paradise.
There are all sorts of false stories and claims that the Prophet ﷺ took out his hand from his grave to shake hands with someone, SubhaanAllah these are all fabricated stories. The life of al-barzakh is a special life and the nature of which is known to Allaah. It is not like the life of this world in which the soul remains with the body as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “but you cannot make hear those who are in graves” [Faatir 35:22]
So all these evidences stand to prove that this special life of the barzakh is for our prophet the other prophets except Jesus and the others who die and it does not resemble the life of this world nor that of the hereafter and therefore from this we know the wrong committed by many people who go and travel to the grave of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ seeking him and calling him thinking that he is alive and he responds to their requests as if he was in this life where they use to go him to the Prophet ﷺ asking him to invoke Allaah for them at the time of the companions.
May Allaah (سبحانه و تعالى) guide us to the true path of the Prophet ﷺ which he was upon and his companions were upon. May Allaah save us from all afflictions and paths that lead us astray.