Different kinds of miracles given to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam

First: The material miracle

Allaah gave His Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,  many miracles of a tangible and material nature, including:

1) In the Quran: The splitting of the moon

Dr. Faruq al-Baz (b. 1938), an Egyptian-American scientist who worked on the Apollo Program, told me that there have been six moon landings made by American astronauts.

Dr. ‘Adil ‘Abd as-Salam, professor of geography at Damascus University, showed that in an image of the moon brought to earth by the Americans, there appears to be some disruption on the moon’s surface, now filled with sand. This region is called the sea of sand. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {The hour drew near and the moon was split.} [Quran 54:1-2]

Anas ibn Malik, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the people of Makkah asked Allaah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,  to show them a sign, so he showed them the moon in two halves, until they saw Mount Hiraa’ between them. [Al-Bukhaari]

‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: While we were with Allaah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, at Mina, the moon split in two: one part was behind the mountain and the other was in front of it. Allaah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then said to us, “Bear witness.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

2) In the Sunnah

Miracles of a material nature found in the prophetic Sunnah include:

1. Water flowing from between the fingers of the Prophet , sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,.

This happened more than once and in different locations, being witnessed by many and narrated from such a big number of narrators, which implies conclusive knowledge. The most well-known report is that narrated by Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, as he said:

On the Day of al-Hudaybiyah, the people were suffering from thirst. The Prophet , sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,  had a leather vessel in front of him and performed ablution. The people came weeping to him. He asked, “What is wrong with you?” They replied, “We have no water to perform ablution or to drink, except what is in front of you.” He then placed his hand in the vessel and water began to gush forth from between his fingers, as if they were springs, so we drank and performed ablution.

I (Saalim ibn Abi Al-Ja‘d) asked him, “How many were there?” He said: “Even if we were a hundred thousand, it would have sufficed us, but we were only fifteen hundred.” [Al-Bukhari: 3576]

This is profound proof that Allaah is able to do anything, further showing the Muslim that when he truly puts his trust in Allaah, then Allaah The Almighty will Protect and Preserve him. The gushing of water from between his fingers and its flowing from a small leather vessel is fine, clearcut evidence and plain proof of the truthfulness of this prophet. Such is a token and sure sign that this nation is upon the truth, in which there can be no doubt. This is even more profound than the miracle of Musa, when he struck the stone from which sprang twelve springs, because water quite normally comes forth from cracks in rocks; but it does not pass as such through the flesh and blood of men.

2. The pining of the palm trunk.

          This was transmitted to us by a group of about twenty Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, through multiple authentic chains of narration which constitutes conclusive knowledge. Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah said that:

On Fridays, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,  would stand, leaning on a palm tree to deliver the sermon. A woman or a man of the Ansaar said, “O Messenger of Allaah! Might we make a pulpit for you?” He replied, “If you wish.” So they made a pulpit for him. Then when Friday came again and he went to the pulpit, the palm cried out like a child, so he went down to it and comforted it until its whimpering subsided. He said, “It is weeping for the loss of what it used to hear of the remembrance.” [Bukhari]

3. Multiplying food.

          There are many famous stories about this, witnessed by multitudes of people. Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah narrated that:

On the Day of the Trench, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, fed a thousand Companions with only a small amount of barley bread and a single she-kid. [Al-Bukhaari: 4101, 4102]

This was like the miracle of ‘Eesa, may Allaah exalt his mention, mentioned in the gospel of Matthew 14:19-21:

He ordered the people to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. […] The number of men who ate was about five thousand, not counting the women and children.

4. The praise given by the food itself.

‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ud said, telling about a time in the presence of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, , “We could hear the food giving praise while it was being eaten.” [Al-Bukhaari: 3579]

There are many other tangible miracles that have been reported from the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, , and this is not the time to go into all of them. Rather, they are mentioned in a number of books authored on this specific topic, like Dalaa’il An-Nubuwwah by al-Bayhaqi, Ash-Shifa by Al-Qaadhi ‘Iyaadh, Al-Khasaa’is al-Kubra  by as-Suyooti, and so forth.