Muhammad did not Perform Miracles (JBJ)

Though many ahadith report Muhammad performing miracles, the Qur'an denies that any miracle happened except the Qur'an itself.

Contents

No Sign Given to Muhammad

Non-Muslims Ask about Signs

All translations are from Yusuf Ali.

Say those without knowledge: "Why speaketh not Allah unto us? or why cometh not unto us a Sign?" . . . (2.118)

Even if thou wert to bring to the people of the Book all the Signs (together), they would not follow Thy Qibla . . . (2.145)

They say: "Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?" Say: "Allah hath certainly power to send down a sign: but most of them understand not. (6.37)

They swear their strongest oaths by Allah, that if a (special) sign came to them, by it they would believe. Say: "Certainly (all) signs are in the power of Allah: but what will make you (Muslims) realise that (even) if (special) signs came, they will not believe."? (6.109)

They say: "Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?" Say: "The Unseen is only for Allah (to know), then wait ye: I too will wait with you." (10.20)

And the Unbelievers say: "Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?" But thou art truly a warner, and to every people a guide. (6.37)

The Unbelievers say: "Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?" . . . (13.27)

And We refrain from sending the signs, only because the men of former generations treated them as false: We sent the she-camel to the Thamud to open their eyes, but they treated her wrongfully: We only send the Signs by way of terror (and warning from evil). (17.59)

But (now), when the Truth has come to them from Ourselves, they say, "Why are not (Signs) sent to him, like those which were sent to Moses?" Do they not then reject (the Signs) which were formerly sent to Moses? They say: "Two kinds of sorcery, each assisting the other!" And they say: "For us, we reject all (such things)!" (28.48)

Two things can be noted from the above verses. First, people came to Muhamamd and asked why a sign was not given. Obviously they would not ask this if Muhammad had performed a sign. Second, God replies that if a sign was given, they would still not believe. If God had already sent a sign with Muhammad, God would not speak hypothetically

Muhammad Was only a Messenger

From Yusuf Ali.

They say: "We shall not believe in thee, until thou cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth, (91) Or (until) thou have a garden of date trees and vines, and cause rivers to gush forth in their midst, carrying abundant water; (92) Or thou cause the sky to fall in pieces, as thou sayest (will happen), against us; or thou bring Allah and the angels before (us) face to face:(93) Or thou have a house adorned with gold, or thou mount a ladder right into the skies. No, we shall not even believe in thy mounting until thou send down to us a book that we could read." Say: "Glory to my Lord! Am I aught but a man,- a messenger?" (17.90-93)

Nay, here are Signs self-evident in the hearts of those endowed with knowledge: and none but the unjust reject Our Signs. Ye they say: "Why are not Signs sent down to him from his Lord?" Say: "The signs are indeed with Allah: and I am indeed a clear Warner." (17.49-50)

Signs of Muhammad

Two subjects are arguably signs of God given by Muhammad.

Splitting the Moon

One verse in the Qur'an is cited as a miracle of Muhammad, the splitting of the moon.

The Hour (of Judgment) is nigh, and the moon is cleft asunder. (2) But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say, "This is (but) transient magic." (59.1-2)

That the Meccan people requested Allah's Apostle to show them a miracle, and so he showed them the splitting of the moon. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 831)

However, if this verse refers to a miracle done by Muhammad, it contradicts the rest of the Qur'an. It is more likely that this verse is speaking of a future event near Judgement Day. Notice 59.2 is not written as a historical event. The past tense was sometimes used for the future to give emphasis, especially regarding the day of Judgement. Some Muslims agree.

[I]t is practically certain that the above Quran-verse does not refer to it but, rather, to a future event: namely, to what will happen when the Last Hour approaches. (The Fifty-Fourth Surah; Online Source)

The Qur'an

Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment. . . (2.185)

The Qur'an claims that it is a literary miracle from God because only God could create something so beautiful. This is undisputed in the Qur'an. However, this is not the kind of sign that nonMuslims asked Muhammad about and therefore does not contradict the earlier quoted verses.

External Links

Muhammad and Miracles

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