The Sings of the Message

The Qur’anic Miracle

Allah (SWT) ordained that He support His Messengers with Sings indicating the truthfulness of their mission, and tokens that would deny people any pretext to refuse the truth. Scholars call these Signs and Tokens terminologically “miracles”, and in Allah’s Book they are called “bayyinat” (Signs), as Allah (SWT) says: “And We sent Our Messengers with Clear Signs.” (LVII: 25)[1]

Signs and Miracles varied according to the various communities and nations. Allah (SWT) exposed every nation to a Sign that suited their cultural and intellectual standard so that it might be enough evidence to challenge them and to prove the truthfulness of the Messenger. Since Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent to all humanity, Allah (SWT) supported him with various Signs that suited all the nations to whom he was sent, and will suite all future generations till the Day of Resurrection, regardless of their different cultures and talents.

The following are among the Signs he showed:

·        The eloquence and rhetoric that suited the eloquent and rhetorical Arabs.

·        Signs that suited the followers of other religions, such as the glad tidings in the previous scriptures.

·        Wise laws and regulations the like of which none of the law makers were able to produce, and that are suitable for all environments and times.

·        Visible Miracles, such as the Miracle of the splitting of the moon, which was recorded by some nations and whose tokens are still seen today.

·        The Miracle of informing of unknown events of the past, present and future—facts that are still being revealed proving the truthfulness of such information.

·        The miraculous events that have been recorded in the most authentic documents known to human beings, i.e., the Qur’an and the Prophetic Hadith.

·        Scientific Knowledge, i.e., the scientific Miracle in the Qur’an and the Sunnah that suit our contemporary scholars and scientists.

Allah (SWT) made the Qur’an, which includes many of such miracles, the greatest Sign for Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allah (SWT) says: “Say, ‘what thing is most weighty in evidence?’ Say, ‘Allah is witness between me and you. This Qur’an has been revealed to me that I may warn you and all that it reaches.’” (VI: 19)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “None of the Prophets but was given such signs as would cause humans to believe, but what I have been given is a revelation revealed to me by Allah. Therefore, I hope I will have the most followers amongst them on the Day of Resurrection.”[2]

The Noble Hadith refers to the miraculous nature of the Revelation Allah (SWT) sent down to Muhammad (peace be upon him), in that it remained after his death and its miraculous aspects continue to be ever fresh. The Qur’anic witness to the truthfulness of the Message of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is represented by its miraculous style and the miraculous knowledge it holds. Allah (SWT) says: “But Allah bears witness to that which He has sent down to you. He has sent it down with His Knowledge, and the angels bear witness, and Allah is sufficient as a witness.” (IV: 166)

Al-Khazin, in his interpretation of this Verse says: “But Allah bears witness, O Muhammad, that you are a Prophet, by means of this Qur’an, which has been revealed to you.”

Ibn Kathir said: “Allah bears witness that you are His Messenger, to whom the Book has been revealed…It is the Great Qur’an…Therefore, He says: ‘He revealed it with His Knowledge’, that is, it contains His Knowledge which He wants his bondmen to learn i.e.… His Signs, Guidance and Criterion (of right or wrong), what Allah likes and is pleased with, what He dislikes and refuses, knowledge about the unseen related to the past and future.”

Abu Al-‘Abbas Ibn Taymiyah said: Allah’s Witness regarding what He has sent down is His Witness that Allah has sent it down from His own Knowledge. Whatever information in it is from Allah’s knowledge, and not from anyone subordinate to Him. This is expressed in His Saying: “If then they (your false gods) answer not your (call), know that this revelation is sent down (replete) with Allah’s Knowledge and that there is no god but Allah. Will you then be Muslims?” (XI: 14) Many commentators have a similar opinion.[3]

Thus the Qur’anic Sign is represented by the knowledge its Verses carry, i.e., the Scientific Miracle; its miraculous style and structures represent the Miracle of eloquence and rhetoric.

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