Ibn Sikkit, a great literaryscholar of his era, once asked Imam Reza
(as): "Why did Allah (SWT) appoint different miracles to each prophet?
He sent Prophet Musa / Moses (pbuh)withmiracles of the cane and the
halo hand, Prophet Isa/Jesus (pbuh)with the power to heal and Holy
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) with the miracle of eloquence?"
Imam Reza (as) replied: "When Allah (SWT) appointed Musa / Moses as a
prophet, it was in anera when magic and supernatural acts were more
common among people than science. Musa / Moses therefore, brought an
act that people had never seen before and could not understand it
through their rational. With this miracle, he was able to refute the
works of the magicians and give them clear proof.
At the time of Isa/Jesus, on the other hand, diseases without cure had
spread throughout. Science and medication was highly in demand.
Isa/Jesus therefore came to them with the miracle of healing all
diseases, a power not known to them, for he could give life to the
dead, and heal genetic blindness and leprosy. And through his
miracles, he fulfilled his proof upon the people ofhis time.
However, Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) was appointed at a time when
poetry and eloquence in language was very popular among the
communities. With the revelation of Holy Quran and its teachings,
Allah (SWT) refuted their reasoning."
The miracles of the previous prophets were suitable for the era in
which they lived. We do not have access to most of them. The only
eternal miracle that has lived its way to us is Holy Quran: amiracle
that till this day isbeing examined in all its different aspects,
including its eloquence and language. Although Holy Quran descended in
an era where significant attention was paid to poetry and language,
nevertheless Holy Quran was not limited to that era, rather later
generations can also relate to its message and miracles. For instance,
there are cases in which Holy Quran predicts the future; and even
cases in which Holy Quran points to secrets of creation thatwere
discovered long after Holy Quran's revelation. These facts imply that
Holy Quran was revealed by the one who knows everything about the
creation of theuniverse. Further, this holy book of Islam was brought
by a Prophet who had not gone to anyacademy or school, and therefore
could not have compiled Holy Quran himself. Indeed Holy Quran was
descended by the Lord of the universe.
Has the time of miracles ended? Will we no longerwitness any miracles?
Considering the fact that the miracles of the previous prophets were
specifically designed for a certain time and place, must we then for
the sake of our own faith refer back to the historical accounts on
miracles to become a believer?
In quest for finding answers to these questions, we come across the
holy book of Islam. Holy Quran is the only book that clearly and
firmly claims to be a living miracle for all humans of any race, in
any place, and with any ethnicity they hold.
How Holy Quran views itself a Miracle of Islam?
As we already know, a miracle is an extraordinary act that can not be
performed by just any person. One whom claims to be a prophet will
then prove his status by presenting amiracle. The message miracles
tend to get across to humanity is thatsince human capacities fail to
create miracles, then surely the miracles must be planned and ordered
by a power exceeding above human powers: the power of thecreator of
this world. In other words, by giving the power of miracles to the
prophets, His chosen people, Allah (SWT) has confirmed His direct
connection with the prophets.
Similarly, to prove that it surely is a miracle from Allah (SWT), Holy
Quran challenges the people that doubt the divinity ofthis book to
bring a booksimilar to Holy Quran. It then clearly alleges that if all
the people unite to bring a complete book like that of Holy Quran,
they will not succeed. To make its point more clearand to further
prove the incapability of man in bringing a book like HolyQuran, Noble
Quran this time challenges the people to then bring onlyten chapters
like the chapters of Holy Quran. And just as the answer is obvious to
Holy Quran, it claims that indeed man cannot do such, "Or, do they
say: He has forged it.Say: Then bring ten forged chapters like it and
call upon whom you can besides Allah, if you are truthful; But if they
do not answer you, then know that it is revealed by Allah's knowledge"
(Holy Quran, 11:13-14). And finally to show the extremity of their
weakness, it agrees to continue this challenges with only one chapter,
"And if you are in doubt as to that which We haverevealed to Our
servant, then produce a chapter like it and call on your witnesses
besides Allah if you are truthful" (Holy Quran, 2:23). And again Holy
Quran alleges that they can not do such, "But if you do (it) not and
never shall you do (it), then be on your guard against the fire of
which men and stones are the fuel; it is prepared for the unbelievers"
(Holy Quran,2:24).
It is interesting to know what aspect Holy Quran used for this
challenge. Islamic scholars believe that the entire Holy Quran offers
many different miracles. However, when Holy Quran challenges based on
each one of its chapters it focuses on theeloquence and fluency ofthe
verses.
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