Two Kinds of Miracles (Part I)

In this four-part series of articles, God willing, I hope to update our understanding of how we define a miracle, unpack what it is, and its implications according to the Quran. Often, people equate a miracle to how it comes to manifestation, but as we will see in this first article, how a miracle comes to fruition has no bearing on the definition of a miracle per the verses of the Quran.

The term for “a miracle” in the Quran is “ayah” ( ءَايَة ). Ayat (pl. ءَايَـٰت ) are signs and, according to the Quran, come in many forms. God calls the nine miracles He gave to Moses ayat (17:101). God tells Zachariah that his inability to speak for three days concerning the birth of John was an ayat (3:41). God calls the creation of the heavens and the earth and the variations in languages and colors ayat (30:22). God also calls the verses of the Quran ayat (11:1).  

[11:1] A.L.R. This is a scripture whose verses (ayat) have been perfected, then elucidated. It comes from a Most Wise, Most Cognizant. 

الٓر كِتَـٰبٌ أُحْكِمَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ

When we delve into the Quran, it becomes evident that miracles (ayat), as described within its pages, may manifest in one of two distinct ways. This dichotomy in the nature of miracles is not just a matter of differing phenomena; rather, it speaks to the multifaceted ways God interacts with this world. Each method, as outlined in the Quran, serves not just as a demonstration of God’s divine power but also provides a glimpse of God’s omniscience and omnipotence over His creation.

Method #1: Be, And it is

The first method that God utilizes to manifest miracles in our world is by directly intervening in the fabric of our reality, altering the conventional laws that govern our world. This intervention is encapsulated in a profoundly simple yet immensely powerful command: “Be” (kun / كُن ). At this utterance, the command transforms whatever God wills into reality (fayakūnu / فَيَكُونُ ). This process is an immediate transition from command to actualization, illustrating a fundamental aspect of God’s power – the ability to instantiate reality with a mere utterance. It’s a concept that is counter to our conventional understanding of causality and the nature of existence, pointing to a realm where the divine word is not separate from action but is the very act of creation itself.

An example of this is the immaculate conception of Jesus. For this miracle, God intervened in His creation and sent an angel to deliver the word “Be” (kun / كُن ) to Mary to allow her to conceive miraculously without a genetic father.

[3:45] The angels said, “O Mary, GOD gives you good news: a Word from Him whose name is ‘The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary.’ He will be prominent in this life and in the Hereafter, and one of those closest to Me.
[3:46] “He will speak to the people from the crib, as well as an adult; he will be one of the righteous.”
[3:47] She said, “My Lord, how can I have a son, when no man has touched me?” He said, “GOD thus creates whatever He wills. To have anything done, He simply says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.

إِذْ قَالَتِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ ٱسْمُهُ ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَمِنَ ٱلْمُقَرَّبِينَ

وَيُكَلِّمُ ٱلنَّاسَ فِى ٱلْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

This aspect of divine intervention, where God simply states “Be,” and thus it becomes, illustrates that at any moment, God can manifest miracles. This mechanism represents a direct intervention by God into the ongoing flow of the world, an intervention that occurs after all things are already set in motion. It’s a demonstration of a power that transcends the usual bounds of physical laws and temporal constraints. This isn’t just an alteration of existing elements; it’s an act of creation from nothing by mere command.

Method #2: Predestination

The second pathway through which God manifests miracles hinges on the concept of predestination. In this framework, God, in His omniscience, has already woven specific miracles into the very tapestry of the cosmos, predetermining their emergence at precise moments and locations. These are not random acts of divine intervention but meticulously planned events intricately linked to the cause-and-effect chain within the laws governing our world. These miracles, set into motion even before the creation of the universe, unfold naturally over time, seamlessly integrated into the fabric of reality. They exemplify a different aspect of God’s power – one that doesn’t necessitate an active, post-creation intervention but rather relies on the initial act of creation itself. In this understanding, the universe is not a static creation but a dynamic canvas, where certain events, preordained by divine will, reveal themselves in the fullness of time.

Reflecting on the grand tapestry of existence, one can observe examples of these preordained miracles in the majestic formation of stars, the intricate dance of planets, and the vast expanse of the universe itself. Each of these cosmic phenomena isn’t just a random occurrence but a manifestation of the complex and awe-inspiring mechanisms set in motion by God. These mechanisms, which encompass the creation and sustenance of life on our planet, are not mere coincidences or the product of unguided forces. Instead, they are the result of a deliberate and sophisticated design, a testament to a higher intelligence and purpose at work in the cosmos. This perspective invites us to consider the universe not just as a physical space but as a realm imbued with meaning and intentionality, where every element, from the grandest galaxy to the smallest life form, plays a role as a testament to God’s glory.

[30:20] Among His proofs is that He created you from dust, then you became reproducing humans.
[30:21] Among His proofs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquility and contentment with each other, and He placed in your hearts love and care towards your spouses. In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who think.
[30:22] Among His proofs are the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors. In these, there are signs for the knowledgeable.
[30:23] Among His proofs is your sleeping during the night or the day, and your working in pursuit of His provisions. In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who can hear.
[30:24] Among His proofs is that He shows you the lightning as a source of fear, as well as hope, then He sends down from the sky water to revive a land that has been dead. In these, there are sufficient proofs for people who understand.
[30:25] Among His proofs is that the heaven and the earth are standing at His disposal. Finally, when He calls you out of the earth, one call, you will immediately come out.

 وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ إِذَآ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ تَنتَشِرُونَ
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ خَلْقُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَٰنِكُمْ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّلْعَـٰلِمِينَ
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ مَنَامُكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱبْتِغَآؤُكُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦٓ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَيُحْىِۦ بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَآ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَن تَقُومَ ٱلسَّمَآءُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ثُمَّ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ دَعْوَةً مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ إِذَآ أَنتُمْ تَخْرُجُونَ

[6:99] He is the One who sends down from the sky water, whereby we produce all kinds of plants. We produce from the green material multitudes of complex grains, palm trees with hanging clusters, and gardens of grapes, olives, and pomegranate; fruits that are similar, yet dissimilar. Note their fruits as they grow and ripen. These are signs for people who believe.

 وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِرًا نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبًّا مُّتَرَاكِبًا وَمِنَ ٱلنَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَانٌ دَانِيَةٌ وَجَنَّـٰتٍ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهًا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَـٰبِهٍ ٱنظُرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ ثَمَرِهِۦٓ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِۦٓ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكُمْ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Conclusion

So, irrespective of whether a miracle came by God’s direct intervention or by means of what can be attributed to purely naturalistic properties, it has no bearing on what constitutes a miracle. Therefore, miracles are not defined by the means through which they come to manifestation. Rather, as we will see in the following article, what makes a miracle is encapsulated in the significance of its outcome and, more specifically, the impact it has on those who witness the said miracle. This perspective shifts our focus from the mechanics of miraculous events to their deeper implications.