The Fifth Way
This concerns the well‑known apparent wonders and perceptible miracles. The books of biography and history are loaded with them. The illustrious ulema (May Allah reward them well) have categorised them and expounded them appropriately. We have skipped the details so as not to teach what is already known.
Indication
Although there may be no consensus concerning the transmission of all the instances of the apparent wonders (mütevâtir), there are many in their different categories and so may be considered to be unanimously reported in respect of their meanings (mütevâtir‑i bilmânâ). There are several categories of those wonders.
One Category is the various irhâsât; As though that century profited from the Messenger (UWBP) as a highly sensitive wonderworker that had premonitions of his coming, and gave news of it.
Another Category was the numerous predictions of the future. As if the Messenger’s (UWBP) ethereal, winged spirit rent the bonds of fixed time and space, roamed in the climes of the past and the future, then told us of what it had witnessed.
Another: Wonders that could be perceived by the physical senses and were performed during the period of his challenging the existing order. These have been said to number nearly a thousand. That is to say, as we said, even if each miracle was reported from only one source (âhâdî), in total they may be considered as being reported unanimously in respect of their meanings.
And Another is water flowing from his blessed fingers. As though with its flowing from his blessed hand, which was a source of munificence, the water – the leaven of life – was depicting the outpouring of the water of guidance – the leaven of spirits – from his tongue, which was the source of guidance.
And Another was the utterances of trees, stones, and animals. As though the spiritual life of his guidance spread to inanimate beings and animals and brought them to speech.
And Another was the splitting of the moon. As though the moon, which is like the heart of the sky, longingly split its pure shining breast at the sign of his blessed finger in order to form a relationship with his blessed heart.
Note The splitting of the moon may be held to be unanimously reported in respect of its meaning (mütevâtir‑i bi’l-mâna), and is established by the verse, And the moon split. For those who denied the Qur’an did not object to it. And apart from one forced interpretation that does not deserve attention, the verse has not been interpreted otherwise.
Doubt and Note The whole world did not necessarily witness the splitting of the moon since it was both unexpected, and it occurred at night when people were heedless, and there were no celestial observations at that time, and there were shooting stars, and the times of moonrise differed according to place. But it was affirmed by those who were present at the time it occurred.
One of these, and the first and foremost, was the Perspicuous Qur’an. Its miraculousness has been proved above to a small extent, in seven respects. And so on and so forth. I refer you to the relevant reliable books for the rest of the miracles.
Conclusion
O you who have studied these words of mine! Consider all I have said, that is, the above five Ways, attentively and with a broad and balanced view, and looking on them as an encircling enclosure or wall, gaze on the prophethood of Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace) at their centre. Or see them as mutually supporting soldiers surrounding the sultan in order that together with the other mutually responsive and assisting answers they may repulse the groundless suspicions that assault from one side. This being the case, in reply to the question of the Japanese: What is the clear proof of the existence of the Allah you are calling us to? I say this:
Muhammad, Upon whom be blessings and peace!
Indication, Guidance, and Note
On science (fenn‑i hikmet) being sent as interrogator and questioner by the universe and the government of creation, it happened upon the vanguard of humankind, which was turned towards the future, and it posed human beings with the following questions:
“Sons of men! Where do you come from and at whose command? What are you doing? Where are you going? What is your origin? And what is your destination?”
Upon this, the guide, leader, and orator of humankind, Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace) rose to his feet and replied to science, which had proceeded from the government of creation:
“Interrogator, sir! We companies of beings have come as officials from the realm of divine power on the orders of the Pre‑Eternal Monarch. He is the Pre-Eternal Ruler, the Necessary Existent, the possessor of all the attributes of perfection. He has clothed us in the garment of existence and bestowed on us our faculties and capabilities, which are our capital and felicity. We companies of men are at present busy preparing for everlasting happiness. Then later we shall depart all together for the bodily resurrection of the dead and shall head for eternity.”
So science (hikmet)! Don’t quibble or talk nonsense! Relate exactly what you have seen and heard!