The occurrence of extraordinary events, beyond the natural order and contrary to reason, from someone other than a prophet is termed as “Karamat” (miracle). Although the manifestation of miracles happens through individuals, the true agent behind it is Allah Almighty Himself because no person can do anything without Allah’s command. Allah Almighty guides:
Oوَمَا تَشَاؤُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
(الدَّهْر، 76: 30)
“And you cannot wish anything yourselves except what Allah wills. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise.”
And it is said in Surah Takweer:
Oوَمَا تَشَاؤُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
(التَّکْوِيْر، 81: 29)
“And you can aspire only to what Allah intends, Who is the Sustainer of all the worlds.”
Therefore, if the occurrence of actions that are in accordance with nature and habit cannot happen without divine command, then how can extraordinary events occur without the permission of Allah? Therefore, permission for miracles also comes from Allah, and He grants whoever He wills the authority in this matter. It is divine guidance:
قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَـنْـزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاءُ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
(آل عِمْرَان، 3: 26)
“(O My Beloved!) Submit (like this): ‘O Allah, Lord of sovereignty! You bestow sovereignty on whom You will, and You take away sovereignty from whom You will. You confer honour on whom You will, and You dishonour whom You will. All good is in Your Mighty Hand. Surely, You have absolute authority and control over everything.”
The Hadith Qudsi states that righteous and pious beings are granted such closeness to divine presence due to their worship, devotion, and righteousness that their seeing, hearing, grasping, and walking become acts of obedience to the divine command. This is why miracles occur with the saints of Allah. Abu Huraira (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah the Almighty has said: Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I shall be at war with him. And My servant does not attain nearness through anything which I like and which I have enjoined upon him. He further said:
وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ: كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا، وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا، وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ، وَلَئِنِ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ، وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ المُؤْمِنِ، يَكْرَهُ المَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ
(بخاري، الصحيح، كتاب الرقاق، باب التواضع، 5: 2384، رقم: 6137، بيروت: دار ابن كثير اليمامة)
“And My servant keeps on coming closer to Me through performing voluntary deeds until I love him. And when I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks (and acts). And if he asks Me for something, I will surely give it to him, and if he seeks refuge with Me, I will surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about (seizing) the soul of My faithful servant; he hates death, and I hate hurting him.”
There are numerous examples of the authority granted to the friends of Allah in the Quran and Hadith. Here are two brief examples:
The Story of Salman and the Throne of Bilqis: When Hazrat Salman (علیہ السلام) suggested bringing the throne of Bilqis, a jinn offered to bring it before Salman could even rise from his place. However, Asif bin Barkhiya, one of the companions of Salman, brought the throne before him even before blinking. This incident is mentioned in the Quran in the following manner:
قَالَ الَّذِي عِندَهُ عِلْمٌ مِّنَ الْكِتَابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِندَهُ قَالَ هَذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ
(النَّمْل، 27: 40)
“Then the one who had some knowledge of the (heavenly) Book submitted: ‘I can bring it to you before your vision turns back to you (i.e., even before the twinkling of an eye).’ So, when (Sulayman [Solomon]) saw it (the throne) placed before him, he said: ‘This is by the Grace of my Lord so that He may put me to the test whether I thank (Him) or not. And he who thanks (Allah), his gratitude is for the good of his own self, and he who is ungrateful, then surely my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Most Generous.’”
Hazrat Ibn Umar (رضی اللہ عنہما) narrated that he said: Hazrat Umar (رضی اللہ عنہما) sent an army with Hazrat Sariya (رضی اللہ عنہما) as its commander. Then suddenly, during his sermon, Hazrat Umar (رضی اللہ عنہما) began calling out:
يَا سَارِيَةُ الْجَبَل، يَا سَارِيَةُ الْجَبَل، يَا سَارِيَةُ الْجَبَل، ثُمَّ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ الْجَيْشِ فَسَأَلَهُ عُمَرُ، فَقَال: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هُزِمْنَا، فَبَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ سَمِعْنَا صَوْتًا يُنَادِي: يَا سَارِيَةُ إِلَى الْجَبَل ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَأَسْنَدْنَا ظُهُورَنَا إِلَى الْجَبَل فَهَزَمَهُمُ اللهُ تَعَالَى، وَكَانَتِ الْمَسَافَةُ بَيْنَ الْمَدِينَةِ حَيْثُ كَانَ يَخْطُبُ عُمَرُ وَبَيْنَ مَكَانِ الْجَيْشِ مَسِيرَةَ شَهْرٍ
(صهيب عبد الجبار، الجامع الصحيح للسنن والمسانيد، 15: 333، الكتاب غير مطبوع)
“O Sa’ad, look towards the mountain! O Sa’ad, look towards the mountain! O Sa’ad, look towards the mountain!” Then when the army approached, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) inquired from them. They replied: “O Amir al-Mu’minin, we have been defeated, and while we were in this state, we heard a voice calling out: ‘O Sa’ad, look towards the mountain!’ It repeated this three times, so we turned our backs towards the mountain.” Allah granted them victory, and at that time, while Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was delivering a sermon, there was a distance of one month’s journey between Medina Munawwara and the location of the army.”
The granting of honor and respect to the friends of Allah and righteous individuals is a sign of Allah’s greatness. He bestows it upon whomsoever He wills, to the extent that He desires.
