Miracles of Prophet not magic
7-10-2001 | IslamWeb
Question:
This is regarding the miracles owned by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessing be upon). How can we explain to non-Muslims that it was not a magic and it was something that Allaah wanted? Could you please tell me some Ayahs from the Quran which says that Allaah caused the Prophet (Peace and blessing be upon) to do the miracles, also some good book in English regarding this.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The difference between magic and miracles is so clear that nobody should be confused between them. A miracle is any act that is supernatural. Fakhrud-Deen Ar-Raazi 
defines it as “Anything that is supernatural and which is challenging without being contradictory in itself.” If you look at the miracles of Prophet Muhammad you find that some of them represented a challenge like the Quran while others did not represent a challenge like the fact that water flowed from between his fingers.
The miracles of Prophet Muhammad were various and numerous. Ibn Taymiyyah says in his book “The Right Answer”,
"The miracles and evidences that prove the prophecy of Prophet Muhammad
“One of the Prophet's miracles is his informing about the previous prophets and their nations. Also, his informing about facts concerning the Lord, the Angel, Paradise, Hell and other things from the Unseen, although he was illiterate. The Prophet also informed about future events like: the Muslim Ummah's triumph, the extinction of the Persian and the Roman empires etc. Also, among his miracles is the ability to influence and act miraculously like the splitting of the moon to support him and the flowing of water between his fingers…"
Ibn Taymiyyah adds that the nature of miracles is beyond the ability of humans or animals whereas the acts of magicians and sorcerers do not go beyond the nature of the acts of animals and the Jinns. A magician may treat some sick people, or sometimes fly on a bird or on a Jinn from one place to another. However, creatures like birds are also known to fly. A magician might produce some food or clothes or other objects [out of thin air]. In this case, objects are simply transferred from a given place to another one; humans as well as the Jinns can do this. However, the Jinns do it in a covert way so that we do not perceive it.
Nevertheless, these actions are not the same as water flowing from between the fingers abundantly, which cannot be done by any human being or any Jinn. In fact, the Prophet performed this miracle when he put his hand in a receptacle and water started to flow from his fingers like springs.
There is a difference between the knowledge of the matters of the Unseen that Allaah The Almighty gives His prophets and orders them to inform their people, and what the magicians and sorcerers tell their audience. The latter is something that could be common knowledge whereas the former is miraculous, like telling people what they eat and what they store as Prophet 'Eesa 
did to the Banu Israa'eel.
On the other hand, when the Jinns inform magicians or soothsayers about some events of the Unseen, they add or deduce some information that they overhear from the Heavens. They do not have enough power to get accurate information. Whereas the prophets inform about future events with accurate precision as narrated in Al-Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet said: "The Hour will not be established till you fight a nation wearing hairy shoes, and till you fight the Turks, who will have small eyes, red faces and flat noses; and their faces will be like flat shields. And you will find that the best people are those who hate responsibility of ruling most of all till they are chosen to be the rulers. And the people are of different natures: The best in the pre-Islamic period are the best in Islam. A time will come when any of you will love to see me rather than to have his family and property doubled." Some of these events have happened exactly as they were described.
It is known that the Prophet was sent to both humans and the Jinns. Thus, his miracles have to be beyond the scope of both. Prophet Sulaymaan (Solomon) was able to direct the wind as he wished.
Magic is of two kinds as related by Az-Zuhri . The first kind is using tricks and jugglery, making people believe in some unusual things. The second kind has some influence on the body and it is related in the Quran as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
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{Say: "I seek refuge with (Allaah) the Lord of the daybreak, "From the evil of what He has created; "And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away). "And from the evil of the witchcrafts when they blow in the knots, "And from the evil of the envier when he envies."} [Quran 113:1-5]
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{… And from these (angels) people learn that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allaah's leave.} [Quran, 2:102]
The greatest miracle that was given to Prophet Muhammad is the Quran. It is a challenge from Allaah The Almighty to all human beings and Jinns until the Day of Judgment. No human being or Jinn will be able to make a chapter like the verses of the Quran. In fact it is the Word of Allaah The Almighty. It comes from Him and it goes back to Him. It is not poetry or magic, and it is not like the words of any human being. Thus, whoever claims that it is magic, Allaah The Almighty challenges him and Says (what means): {That this is verily the word of an honored Messenger [i.e. Jibreel (Gabriel) or Muhammad which he has brought from Allaah]. It is not the word of a poet, little is that you believe! Nor is it the word of a soothsayer (or a foreteller), little is that you remember! This is the Revelation sent down from the Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, Jinns and all that exists).} [Quran 69:40-43]
Among the verses that prove that Allaah The Almighty supported His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with miracles are: Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
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{Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allaah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allaah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.} [Quran 57:25]
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{Alif¬ Laam ¬Meem. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran, and none but Allaah (Alone) knows their meanings.] The revelation of the Book (this Quran) is from the Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, Jinns and all that exists) in which there is not doubt! Or say they: "He (Muhammad) has fabricated it?" Nay, it is the truth from your Lord, that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you (O Muhammad), in order that they may be guided.} [Quran 32:1-3]
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{Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. this Quran) to His slave (Muhammad) that he may be a warner to the 'Aalameen (mankind and Jinns).} [Quran 25:1]
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{Those who disbelieve say: "This (the Quran) is nothing but a lie that he (Muhammad) has invented, and others have helped him at it, so that they have produced an unjust wrong (thing) and a lie." And they say: "Tales of the ancients, which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon." Say: "It (this Quran) has been sent down by Him (Allaah) (the Real Lord of the heavens and earth) Who knows the secret of the heavens and the earth. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."} [Quran 25:4-6]
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{And We sent not (as Our Messengers) before you (O Muhammad) any but men, whom We inspired, (to preach and invite mankind to believe in the Oneness of Allaah). So ask of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Tawraah (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not. With clear signs and Books (We sent the Messengers). And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad) the reminder and the advice (the Quran), that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought.} [Quran 16:43-44]
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{So We sent on them: the flood, the locusts, the lice, the frogs, and the blood: (as a succession of) manifest signs, yet they remained arrogant, and they were of those people who were Mujrimoon (criminals, polytheists, sinners, etc.).} [Quran 7:133]
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{And truly, this (the Quran) is a revelation from the Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, Jinns and all that exists), Which the trustworthy Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] has brought down; Upon your heart (O Muhammad) that you may be (one) of the warners, In the plain Arabic language.} [Quran 26:192-195]
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{And indeed, We have bestowed upon you seven of Al-Mathaani (the seven repeatedly recited Verses), (i.e. Soorat Al-Faatihah) and the Grand Quran.} [Quran 15:87]
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{(This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses, and that men of understanding may remember.} [Quran 38:29]
There are many books in Arabic concerning this subject. The book “Awliyaa’ ur-Rahmaan wa Awliyaa’ ush-Shaytaan" written by Ibn Taymiyyah has been translated in English. It is an outstanding book on the subject and we strongly recommend you to read it.
Allaah Knows best.