Chapter 14 Fourteenth sign: Miracles related to the Messenger’sprayers

 Miracles related to the Messenger’s prayers also are important. Such mir-acles are definite and genuinely

 mutawatir

, having happened numeroustimes. Most of them reach the degree of 

 tawatur

 or are as well-known asthe

 mutawatir

 ones; the rest bear the same certitude as the well-known

mutawatir

 Traditions, since they are narrated by the greatest authorities.Of many such instances, we relate only a few that are as famous as, orhave the same certainty of,

 mutawatir.

 First example:

Traditionists, including Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, report thatGod accepted all of the Messenger’s prayers for rain immediately. Some-times it would begin to fall before he lowered his hands while on thepulpit. As mentioned earlier, clouds would appear to meet his army’sneed for water. Even in his childhood, his grandfather ‘Abd al-Muttalibwould go with him to pray for rain, and it would come out of respect forhim. One of ‘Abd al-Muttalib’s poems made this famous.After the Prophet’s death, ‘Umar once took ‘Abbas with him to prayfor rain, saying: “O God, this is Your beloved Prophet’s uncle. Give usrain for his sake.” Thereafter it rained.

151

As reported by Imam Bukhariand Muslim, God’s Messenger was asked to pray for rain and did so. Itrained so heavily that they asked him to pray for it to cease. He did so,and the rain stopped instantly.

152

Second example:

It is as well-known as

 tawatur

 that even when there were only Com-panions and they were praying in secret, God’s Messenger prayed: “OGod, strengthen Islam by ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab or ‘Amr ibn al-Hisham.”

151.Bukhari, 2:35; Bayhaqi, 6:147.152.Shifa’, 1:327, related by Bukhari and Muslim.

A few days later, ‘Umar embraced Islam and became a means of openlypropagating and exalting Islam.

153

he acquired the sublime title of faruq(discerning between truth and falsehood).

Third example:

God’s Messenger prayed for various distinguished Companions. Hisprayers were so readily accepted that they can be considered miracles.The following are some examples out of many:As reported primarily by Bukhari and Muslim, God’s Messengerprayed for Ibn ‘Abbas: “O God, make him profoundly knowledgeable inreligion and teach him the Qur’an’s innermost meaning.””

154

As a result,Ibn ‘Abbas acquired the sublime title of “Interpreter of the Qur’an” andthe exalted position of being the “Scholar of the Umma.” When Ibn‘Abbas was still young, ‘Umar included him in his consultative as-sembly, which consisted of the Companion’s scholars and elders.Compilers of authentic books of Traditions, including Imam Bukhari,report that Anas’ mother asked God’s Messenger to pray that Anaswould have many descendants and much wealth. He prayed: “O God,give abundance to his wealth and offspring, and bless that which Youhave bestowed on him.” In his old age, Anas swore by God: “I have bur-ied 100 of my children. Concerning my wealth, nobody has lived as hap-pily as I have. You see my abundant wealth, which is due to the Proph-et’s prayer.”

155

Traditionists, including Imam Bayhaqi, report that God’s Messenger prayed for ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf, one of the ten Companions prom-ised Paradise while still living, to have abundant wealth. As a result, hegained such wealth that once he gave 700 loaded camels as alms in theway of God.

156

Now reflect on the blessings of the Prophet’s prayer andsay: “How great are God’s blessings.”Tradition narrators, including Imam Bukhari, report that God’s Mes-senger prayed for ‘Urwa ibn Abi Ja‘da to profit in business. ‘Urwa says:“Sometimes I would go to Kufa’s market and return home in the eveninghaving earned 40,000 (dirhams).” Imam Bukhari remarks: ‘If he hadtaken a little soil in his hand, he would have gained a profit from it.'

157

‘Abdullah ibn Ja‘far, for whom God’s Messenger prayed for abundance,

153.Tirmidhi, no. 3684; Ibn Hanbal, 2:95; Hakim, 2:465; Bayhaqi, 2:215.154.Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 1:264; also related by Bukhari, Muslim, and Hakim.155.Bukhari, 8:93, 100; Muslim, no. 2480; Ibn Hanbal, 6:430.156.Shifa’, 1:326; Bayhaqi, 6:218; Abu Dawud, no. 2109.157.Bukhari, 4:252; Ibn Hajar, al-Isaba, 2:476; Bayhaqi, 6:220.

 

 became famous because of his great wealth. He was as well-known forhis generosity as he was for his riches.

158

The above-mentioned miracles are enough to illustrate this point.Imam Tirmidhi and other Traditionists report that God’s Messengerprayed for Sa‘d ibn Abi Waqqas: “O God, answer his prayer.”

159

Afterthat, Sa‘d became famous for having his prayers accepted. In addition,everyone feared his malediction. God’s Messenger also prayed that AbuQatada might remain young, saying: “May God prosper your face. OGod, bless his hair and skin.” When Abu Qatada died at the age of 70, heseemed to be as young as a 15-year-old boy.

160

Once the poet Nabigha recited a poem of his in the presence of God’sMessenger. When he recited the couplet:

Our honor and praise have reached the skies;We want to ascend even higher!

the Messenger asked him, jokingly: “To where, O Abu Layla?” Hereplied: “To Paradise, O Messenger of God.” Afterwards, he recited an-other meaningful poem and the Messenger of God prayed: “May Godnot deform your mouth.” As a result, Nabigha had all of his teeth whenhe reached the great age of 120 years. Whenever he lost a tooth, a newone would appear in its place.

161

God’s Messenger prayed for Imam ‘Ali: “O God, suffice him againstheat and cold.” As a result, Imam ‘Ali felt neither cold nor heat even if hehabitually wore winter clothing in summer or summer clothing inwinter. He said: “I do not suffer from cold or heat, thanks to the Proph-et’s prayer.”

162

God’s Messenger also prayed for Fatima: “O God, do notlet her suffer from hunger.” Fatima said: “I never suffered from hungerafter his prayer.”

163

Tufayl ibn ‘Amr once asked the Messenger to perform a miracle for histribe. The Messenger prayed: “O God, provide light for him.” A light ap-peared between Tufayl’s eyes, which was later transferred to the end of astick. This caused him to be known as Dhu al-Nur (possessor of light).

164

158.Ibn Hajar, Matalib al-‘Aliya, 4077; related by Abu Ya‘la and Tabarani.159.Tirmidhi, 3752; Hakim, 3:499; also related by Ibn Hibban and Abu Nu‘aym.160.Shifa’, 1:327, related by Bayhaqi.161.Ibn Hajar, al-Isaba, No. 8639; Bayhaqi, 6:232; Ibn Kathir, al-Bidaya, 6:168.162.Ibn Hanbal, 1:99; Ibn Maja, 1:43; also related by Bayhaqi and Tabarani.163.Majma‘ al-Zawa’id, 9:203, related by Bayhaqi and Tabarani.