The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 459
X - Siege of Madīnah and Delicate State of the Muslims, Failure of the Disbelievers and Reality of Miracles 459 prophethood. 1 Obviously, as the level of one’s faith continues to progress, the manner in which miracles are manifested also changes accordingly, and the veils of secrecy continue to decrease. Hence, the word ‘Shahīd’ 2 refers to such a person whose veils of secrecy have been lessened. Now if the above-mentioned occurrence is analysed in light of this fundamental principle, no real objection remains. The reason being that in light of principles of testimony and narration, it is firmly established that this incident actually took place and no room for reasonable doubt remains. Moreover, the incident in question does not contradict any explicit custom of God, unconditional promise or well-known attribute of God. Furthermore, this incident exhibits a spectacle of divine might as is beyond the power of man. Moreover, since this incident was only witnessed by the believers and its fundamental purpose was to increase them in faith, the veil of concealment in this miracle was relatively less. Yet, despite this, the account was not like a vision as conspicuous as plain sight, where no possibility of interpretation remains from any angle and its hidden reality becomes evident like the noon sun. For example, the possibility exists that in certain circumstances, due to hidden factors, the human stomach may undergo such extraordinary changes that it begins to feel satiated with an amount of food which is far less than its average intake, and so on and so forth. Now remains the issue that in this Ḥadīth an incident has been related, which apparently seems to contradict our general experience and known law of nature. In response to this, firstly, it is a very difficult task to define the limits of the law of nature. In fact, such a task is actually impossible. To categorically and conclusively specify that such and such things are within the law of nature while others are not is a very big claim, which no sensible individual can dare to make. The truth is that when a certain occurrence has practically taken place and a community of wise and truthful people have witnessed it, then such a thing should become a part of the law of nature; and we should accept that although the law of nature generally manifests itself in such and such way, but on certain occasions, due to hidden factors which we have not yet fully understood, the law of nature manifests itself in other exceptional ways as well. In addition to this, we should also remember that 1 * Al-Baqarah (2:4) * An-Nisā’ (4:70) 2 Generally translated as ‘martyr’ but is also used for someone who witnesses or testifies to something. [Publishers]