5. Role of Miracles in Prophethood
Whenmanrealizes thatheneeds the guidanceof prophetsin orderto
achievethepurposeoflife, henaturallyfeelsaffectionfortheprophets
andmessengerswhoworkforhisbenefitandwhosacrificetheirlivesfor
hisadvantage.Thisaffectionreachesadegreewherepeopleare willing
tobearanyhardshiptoadvancetheaimsoftheprophets;andtheystart
preferring the commands of the prophets to their own desires.
ThisstrongloveandaffectionofthepeopleforprophetsofGod,and
the tremendous power and influences which the prophets gain has
caused some ambitious persons to claim prophethood in order to ad-
vance their own interest.
So,ifsomeoneclaimsprophethood,onecannotbelieveinhimwithout
someinvestigation.Foritispossiblethathefalsely proclaimsprophet-
hood,asmanypeoplehaveindeeddonesouptothepresentday.Inor-
derto find out ifsomeone is a genuineprophet, the latter must bring
someevidencesothatpeople canbe sureof himandaccept hisclaim.
Thus the real prophets can be distinguished from the pretenders. This
evidence is known as miracles.
What are Miracles?Miracles(mu`jizah)arewhattheprophetsdidaccordingtothe willof
Godinordertoprovethetruthoftheirclaimofprophethood,andwhich
others are unable to copy.
Thispurpose of miracles makesit veryclearas to whyat timesthe
Prophetdidnotaccedetodemandsformoremiracles.Somepeople,who
hadalreadyseenmiracles,demandedvariousthingsfromtheprophets
asmiraclesnotwiththedesiretofollowthetruthbuttofindanexcuse
for not believing. They even asked for things that were logically im-
possible.However,sincetheprophetsbroughtenoughmiracles,theydid
notaccedetosuchdemands.Miraclesaredoneaccordingtothewillof
God and in situations where they are necessary.
TheQur'ānsays,“ThesignsareonlywithGod,andIamonlyaplain
warner.” (29:50)It isnot forany Messengerto bring a sign, exceptby
God's permission. (40:78)