Decoding Miracles in Ashʿarī Theology: Prophetic Signs, Divine Will, and the Role of Reason

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Decoding Miracles in Ashʿarī Theology: Prophetic Signs, Divine Will, and the Role of Reason

By Dr. Shoaib A. Malik
Summary by Al Balagh Academy

Introduction

How do Muslims distinguish a true prophet from a false claimant? Are miracles just extraordinary events, or do they serve a deeper purpose in Islamic theology? In this article summary, we explore how classical Ashʿarī theologians systematically understood miracles—not as violations of nature—but as deliberate, divine signs of prophetic truth. This framework remains crucial even in modern debates around science, religion, and rationality.

🧠 Core Themes Covered

1. The Metaphysical Foundations of Miracles

• God is the only Necessary Being; everything else is contingent and temporally created.

• Ashʿarīs uphold occasionalism: all causes and effects are created directly by God, making divine intervention constant.

• Natural laws are merely habits (ʿādāt)—not binding rules—subject to divine will.

2. Seven Types of Miraculous Events

Ashʿarī scholars like al-Bājūrī categorised miracles into seven types:

1. Muʿjizāt – Prophetic miracles that affirm prophethood.
2. Irhāṣ – Pre-prophetic signs, e.g. miracles before a prophet’s official mission.
3. Karāmāt – Saintly miracles for righteous individuals.
4. Maʿūna – Divine aid for non-prophets, like answered prayers.
5. Istidrāj – Apparent miracles given to misguiders, leading to disgrace.
6. Ihāna – Debasement of false prophets through humiliation.
7. Siḥr – Sorcery or illusionary magic that mimics the miraculous but lacks divine approval.

3. Three Conditions for Valid Prophetic Miracles

To distinguish true prophetic miracles, Ashʿarīs outline three conditions:

• C1: Kharq li-l-ʿāda – The miracle must break the norm or custom of nature.

• C2: Taḥaddī – It must be tied to a claim to prophethood.

• C3: Sālim min al-muʿāraḍa – The miracle must go unchallenged by rivals (e.g., sorcerers).

4. Miracles vs. Sorcery

• Prophetic miracles are tied to divine truth; sorcery is imitable and challengeable.

• God ensures that liars cannot imitate prophetic miracles by withholding support.

• Ashʿarīs differ slightly on whether a liar can perform a miracle. Some say it is logically impossible; others say it is customarily impossible.

📎 Contemporary Relevance

• The article corrects misconceptions (e.g., that Islam only accepts the Qur'an as a miracle).

• It sets the stage for interdisciplinary inquiry—especially into how theology and science can coexist when miracles are redefined as divine signs, not “violations of natural laws.”

• The study opens doors to rethinking modern “scientific miracles” claims and invites a return to robust theological foundations.

📚 Key Takeaway

Miracles in Ashʿarī theology are not arbitrary violations of nature—they are calculated divine signs to affirm prophecy. Recognizing the types and conditions of miracles is essential for defending Islamic theology in both classical and contemporary settings.

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