The Causes of the Manifestation of Prophetic Miracles: A Research Review of Muqsam, Aqsimā and Aqsām

اسبابِ ظہورِ معجزاتِ نبویﷺ : مقسم ،اقسماء اور اقسام کا تحقیقی جائزہ

Abstract

This study examines the underlying causes behind the manifestation of the miracles performed by the Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ), a crucial aspect of the field of Sīrah. Just as understanding the causes of the revelation of the Qur'ān and the narration of Ḥadīth enhances one's comprehension of these significant events, exploring the reasons behind the Prophet’s (ﷺ) miracles offers a deeper understanding of their context and purpose. The research defines the "cause of the appearance of miracles" as the specific circumstances, needs, or requests that prompted the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to perform a miracle, paralleling the causes of Qur'ānic revelation and the transmission of Ḥadīth. These causes are categorized into five main types: causes of invocation, confirmatory causes, causes of supplementary invocation, human need causes, and non-human need causes. In doing so, the study introduces a new term, "Asbāb Wurūd Waqāʻi Sīrah," to classify the various causes within the broader scope of Sīrah studies. The research concludes by asserting that Sīrah is the "mother of all sciences," as it encompasses the life, actions, and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), from which all other Islamic sciences originate. Through a thorough understanding of the causes of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) miracles, this study aims to contribute to a more comprehensive appreciation of Sīrah and its central role in Islamic scholarship.