Miracles of Blessed Saints

From the time of prophethood to the present day, everyone holds the same belief that the saintly miracles of blessed companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ and blessed saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ السَّلَام are Haq [truth] and there has been no difference of opinion amongst rightly-guided people on this matter. Saintly miracles occurred from Allah-loving people in every era and اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه it will never stop until the Judgement Day.

What is miracle?

Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has stated: ‘In the Shar’i’ terminology, saintly miracle is the unusual and extraordinary thing that occurs from a blessed saint. In reality, the thing that can become a Mu’jizah [miracle] of a Prophet can also become a Karamat [saintly miracle] of a blessed saint except for the Mu’jizah [miracle] which is the evidence of prophethood such as divine revelation and verses of the Holy Qur’an.’ (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, pp. 268)

Belief

Imam-e-Jaleel, Mufti of Jinns and Humans, ‘Umar Nasafi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has stated: ‘کَرَاماتُ الْاَوْلِیَاءِ حَقٌّ فَتَظھَرُ الْکَرَامَۃُ عَلٰی طَرِیْقِ نَقضِ الْعَادَۃِ لِلْوَلِیِّ مِنْ قَطْعِ مُسَافَۃِ الْبَعِیْدَۃِ فِی الْمُدَّۃِ الْقَلِیْلَۃ’

Translation: The saintly miracles are Haq [truth]. So the saintly miracle occurs in an unusual way such as travelling a long distance in a short time.

Commenting on it Imam Sa’d-ud-deen Taftazani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has stated: ‘Just as Asif Bin Barkhiya’s [a courtier of Sayyiduna Sulayman عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام] act of bringing the throne of Bilqees (which was a long distance away) before the blink of an eye.’ (Sharah ‘Aqaid-e-Nasafiyyah, pp. 316, 318)

Saintly miracles after demise

Saintly miracles occur from the saints of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ even after their demise. Imam Ibraheem Bin Muhammad Bajuri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has said: ‘It is the opinion of majority of Ahl-us-Sunnah that saintly miracles occur in the life of blessed saints as well as after their demise. Amongst all the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence, there is not even a single school of Islamic jurisprudence that denies the occurrence of saintly miracles from the saints of Islam after their demise, but rather occurring of saintly miracles after the demise are more suited because at that time, the Nafs is free from dirt (of impurities).’(Tuhfat-ul-Mureed, pp. 363)

Ruling on the denier of miracles

This belief is from the essentials of Ahl-us-Sunnah. Therefore, those who deny the saintly miracles of blessed saints are heretic and misguided ones. Imam-e-Ahl-us-Sunnah, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has said: ‘Denying the saintly miracles of blessed saints is misguidance.’(Fatawa-e-Razawiyyah, vol. 14, pp. 324) It is written in Sharah Fiqh-e-Akabir: ‘Miracles of blessed saints are proved from the Qur’an and Sunnah. Mu’tazilah and innovators’ act of denying the saintly miracles of blessed saints has no regard. (Sharah Fiqh-e-Akbar, pp. 141)

Types of miracles

Allamah Yusuf Bin Ismail Nabhani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has mentioned more than 70 types of saintly miracles in the beginning of his book, ‘Jaami’ Karamaat-e-Awliya’ that is about the topic of the saintly miracles of blessed saints.

About the types of saintly miracles occurred from blessed saints and their number, ‘Allamah Taj-ud-Deen Subki رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has said, ‘In my opinion, there are over 100 types of saintly miracles occurred from blessed saints.’(Tabaqat-ush-Shafi’a-tul-Kubra, vol. 2, pp. 78)

Some examples of saintly miracles

Raising the dead, speaking to the dead, curing the people who were blind from birth and lepers, travelling from the east to the west in one step, splitting the river, making the river dry, walking on the river, talking to plants, causing a small amount of food to suffice for a large number of people, etc.

Proof from Qur’an

Sayyidatuna Maryam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهَا would have summer season fruits in winter and winter season fruits in summer. (Tuhfat-ul-Mureed, pp. 363) Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has stated:

كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَیْهَا زَكَرِیَّا الْمِحْرَابَۙ-وَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا رِزْقًاۚ-قَالَ یٰمَرْیَمُ اَنّٰى لَكِ هٰذَاؕ-قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللّٰهِؕ-

Whenever Zakariyya visited her at her prayer chamber, he would find new sustenance (fruits out of season) with her. He asked, ‘O Maryam! Where did this come to you from?’ She answered, ‘It is from Allah;

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)](Part. 3, Surah Aal-Imran, Ayah 37)

The sleeping of the companions of the cave for 309 years without eating or drinking is also (an evidence of a saintly miracle). (Tuhfat-ul-Mureed, pp. 363)

Proof from Hadees

Countless narrations about miracles have been mentioned in the books of Ahadees. Some Islamic scholars and Muhaddisin have written books exclusively on this subject. Please read a narration:

Notice the knowledge of unseen of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, a blessed companion of our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, that he informed about his own demise, the nature of his demise, his demise on Iman [faith], etc. in advance.’ Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ has stated, ‘When the time of the battle of Uhud approached, my father called me in the night and said: ‘I think that I will be the first martyr amongst the companions of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. In my eyes, you are the most beloved to me after the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. I have a debt; pay it and accept my advice to treat your sisters with kindness.’ Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘We saw that in the morning he was the first martyr.’ (Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 454, Hadees 1351; summarized)

Once, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ went to the grave of a pious young man and said: ‘O so and so! Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has promised that:

وَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهٖ جَنَّتٰنِۚ(۴۶)

And for the one who fears standing in the Majestic Court of his Lord, are two Paradises.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)](Part. 27, Surah Ar-Rahman, Ayah 46)

O young man! Tell me, what is your condition in the grave?’ The pious young man called him by His name from inside the grave and replied twice in a loud voice: ‘My Lord has bestowed these two Paradises on me.’(Hujjatullah ‘Alal ‘Aalameen, pp. 612)

The saintly miracle of Sayyiduna Safinah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ is also very famous. He got separated from the Islamic army during the travel in the territory of Rome. He was going in search of the army when a lion suddenly came out of the jungle and stood in front of him. Addressing the lion Sayyiduna Safinah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ said: ‘اَنَامَولٰی رَسُولِ اللّٰه’ I am the slave of the Rasool of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’ My matter is such and such. Having heard this the lion came wagging its tail and stood by his side. Whenever the lion heard a voice/sound, it would go towards it, then it would come back and walk with Sayyiduna Safinah رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ until he reached the army. The lion then went back.’(Mishkat-ul-Masabih, vol. 2, pp. 400, Hadees 5949)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy on him and forgive us without any accountability for his sake.

صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّماٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن