Real vs. Bogus Miracles
Dr. Pasha
(Bringing Islam to the World One Concept at a Time!
Taking the Qur'an to Every Home and Heart that Needs It --
And which One Does Not?)
I am not saying "miracles" are not supernatural, other-worldly phenomena. But what I am saying is this: To me, the best miracle is that which is rooted in empirical reality.
In my view, a miracle should be something that you can understand, and that you can see with your eyes, and experience with your senses.
Thus, they are -- miracles are -- extremely low-probability, high unlikelihood events that exist as part of undeniable empirical human historical record and reality, and for which humanity is duty-bound to come up with rational -- scientific? -- explanations.
People in general, and Muslims in particular, must train themselves to see miracles as real-world, empirical phenomena. Then they will have a better chance of understanding God -- and certainly Islam.
And they will then have a better likelihood of avoiding the "religious mumbo-jumbo" that some pretenders peddle.
And thus will the Muslims, and others, be able to protect themselves from the predatory practices of the charlatans who use "religion," Islam included, as a meal ticket.
And that is what Islam is full of -- real-world, understandable, natural "miracles" of everyday life.
And that is, also, the best "proof" there is for the fact that Islam is from God -- and Islam is not a human concoction or artifact like everything else in this world.
Now look at this real-life miracle with your own eyes and tell me, how likely it is.
This is what Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, said:
Khayirukum, Khayirukum Li-Ahlihi,
Paraphrase I:
"The best of you are those who are best to their families --
wives; children; relatives; parents."
Paraphrase II:
"The best of you are those who are best to your wives."
For anyone to say this in the middle of the Seventh Century is most unlikely. It is clearly an extremely low-probability event.
In other words, it is a "miracle." And these words are nothing short of miraculous.
Those were the times during which women were chattel and property. And children were a burden.
And humanity itself was disposable.
Kings and aristocrats and landlords and priests owned the lands; and the people on those lands were their property and possessions.
And some Arabian parents were even in the habit of burying their daughters alive, whenever they could -- for the burden, fear and shame of bringing them up in hostile and inhospitable societies and environments.
So, in times such as these, and in a place such as this, someone declares that the formula for being the best human being in the world was to be the best to one's own wife?
And to his own children?
It is most unlikely; most improbable; most mind-boggling; most jaw-dropping!
In other words, it is nothing but a miracle.
And then he, Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, turns around and says something which, in most places, by most people, will be considered even more unlikely and improbable.
He declares in the most simple, clear and categorical terms:
Wa Ana Khayirukum Li-Ahlee!
Paraphrase:
"And I happen to be the best of you all to my own family!"
Now tell me, which human leader, past or present, lay or religious, will have that kind of record to stand on?
And who will have that kind of moral courage to make that kind of declaration in public?
Now, that ladies & gentlemen, is what a true miracle is!
And Islam is full of this kind of miracles at every turn.
And that includes the Qur'an, which is a treasure-house of all kinds of miracles, large and small that you can see with your own eyes.
And it includes the Seerat Tayyibah, the most beautiful and pure and perfect life of Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, in both words and deeds.
And it includes Islamic Practices -- some of what English-Speaking Muslims so foolishly call "rituals," such as Wudu, Tayammum, Salat, Siyaam, Zakaat, Hajj and everything else.
And it includes even the everyday lives and habits of Muslims, such as they are, in practically every part of the world.
Well, how is that for miracles?
Now let us get on and start tabulating all the miracles that fill the Qur'an, the Hadith, Islam and Muslim practice at so many levels.
And then let us compare those real-life miracles of Islam with all the "religious" mumbo-jumbo that is passed on as "miracles" by so many charlatans and pretenders everywhere looking for nothing more than a meal ticket.
All the P.T. Barnums (a reference to the great American showman and humbug) of religion -- Islam included!
P.T. Barnum, however, was a harmless pretender. He said a few lies; practiced a few deceptions; made tons of money; and lived happily ever after.
People knew and understood his lies. And they loved him for it.
But these religious charlatans, now they are not harmless people. They are full of poison which they inject in the body of human habitats everywhere.
And they, for their own personal gain, stand between people and truth -- whether that truth is directly from God.
In the Qur'an and Hadith.
Or whether it is truth that springs up from the very reality in which people live.
END
