CONCLUSION

Throughout history, people to whom Allah sent messengers and prophets demanded miracles so that they could see something extraordinary that would convince them to believe. Allah graced some of the prophets with the power to perform miracles; He helped them, thereby enabling them to proclaim His message and engage in a clash of ideas with all sorts of unbelievers. However, people of conscience and intelligence do not need a miracle in order to believe, for those with understanding see everything as an evident proof of His existence. Even though all of creation is filled with signs of Allah's existence and wondrous creative power, some people continue to demand at least one miracle. But their real intention is not what it seems, for instead of believing in these miracles, they falsely accuse those who perform them of such things as witchcraft or corruption. They have sworn by Allah with their most earnest oaths that if a Sign comes to them, they will belive in it. Say: "The Signs are under Allah's control alone." What will make you realize that even if a Sign did come that they would still not believe? We will overturn their hearts and sight, just as when they did not believe in it at first, and We will abandon them to wander blindly in their excessive insolence. Even if We sent down angels to them, the dead spoke to them, and We gathered together everything in front of them right before their eyes, they would still not believe, unless Allah willed. The truth is that most of them are ignorant. (Surat an-An‘am: 109-111) As Allah proclaims, those without faith who insist on seeing miracles do not really want to believe; rather, they want to test the prophets by making things difficult for them. In their own shallow minds, they want to show that the prophets are liars so that they can excuse their own rebelliousness. Such people do not believe even in a miracle when they see one; they simply increase their accusations that they have been bewitched. When they see a Sign they only laugh with scorn. They say: "This is just downright magic." (Surat al-Saffat: 14-15) If they see a Sign, they turn away saying: "There is no end to this witchcraft!" (Surat al-Qamar: 2) It is a grace from Allah that many people have their faith strengthened by miracles. But people of conscience and intelligence believe in Allah because of the extraordinariness of creation, and thus do not expect a special miracle from the prophets. If the Lord manifests Himself in certain miracles, they see such events as blessings that stir up eager enthusiasm in them and strengthen their resolve. Throughout history, unbelievers have never expected such a thing and, as a result, have lost much. In order to find an excuse for their rebelliousness, they have disregarded the truths announced by the prophets in their search for something extraordinary. The Lord says that He could make these people submit to Him with just one miracle: "If We wished We could send down a Sign to them from heaven, before which their heads would be bowed low in subjection" (Surat al-Shu‘ara': 4). But all things happen according to what is required by the nature of this world as a place of testing. The miracles of our Prophet (saas) are a source of great joy for all Muslims. They increase the believers' faith and cause them to be more enthusiastic in their attachment to the sublime Qur'an.