Like many religions, miracles and miracle-workers are an important part of Islamic cosmology and history.

Legendary accounts tell of holy figures breaking the laws of nature and working wonders to the amazement of those around them.

A thread-

Islamic thought generally distinguishes between mujizah, the miracles of the prophets, and karamat the miracles of saintly figures.

While miracles are attributed to Muhammad, most attention is given to the Qur’an itself which was seen as his main miracle.

Muhammad’s companions were also believed to have performed some miracles.

Umar was said to have spoken to his military commander miles away and Ali is said to have performed many wonders including fighting against evil jinn.

The 8th century Rabi'ah al-’Adawiyah, a famed mystic and teacher, had many miracles attributed to her. She could light fires by invoking God in a short supplication.

She would place wood, wet or dry, into a pit and with a quick word they would catch ablaze.

The 9th century, Sayyida Nafisa was also famed for her miracles.

In addition to various acts of healing, she was known for carrying an empty basket around and when she was hungry would reach in and always find something to eat.

She most famously was able to heal a young girl of paralysis with touch and prayer.

The Sufi Abu Yazd al-Bistami on his way to prayer folded the Tigris River so he could cross.

This miracle is known as Tayy al-Arḍ which allowed a person to travel vast distances in a "blink of an eye" or tay al-makan by folding space.

The 11th century Sheikh Abusaeid is also said to have performed this miracle, appearing and disappearing before many.

Abdul Qadir Gilanī, the founder of the Qadiriyya order was reputed to have performed many wonders from appearing in two locations at once, folding space, and even commanding the jinn.

A man once came to him and said his daughter was captured by jinn from his roof. The mystic instructed him to go to a hill and trace out a circle in the name of God and wait.

The man did as instructed and before him appeared a mighty army of the jinn.

The king of the fiery beings asked him what he wanted, the man said he was instructed to come by Abdul Qadir Gilani. The jinn king prostrated in reverence and asked the man what he needed.

The man asked for his daughter back and the jinn king promptly returned her.

Farīduddin Ganjshakar in the 12th century was a legendary Punjabi mystic and teacher. One day he came upon a merchant who was selling sugar.

He asked the man what he had in his cart, the man fearing he was going to get taxed, lied an said it was salt.

The mystic replied, so it is.

When the merchant walked away he realized all his wares had turned into salt.

Repented he went back to Farīduddīn Ganjshakar and begged him to turn it back into sugar.

The 13th century Moroccan mystic, Aḥmad al-Badawi did battle with an enemy sorceress.

He’s said to have whispered a prayer and blown air, which struck his enemy mute and immobile.

Binbas relates the Mamluk mystic, Ḥusayn Akhlati performed a miracle before guests of his house on the Nile.

Passing his hands over the window he opened it to reveal he had turned the Nile into a river of blood.

He closed the window and passed his hands once more and opened to reveal he turned the river to milk.

A third time returned the Nile to water.

According to a legend in the Ferishta, The 13th century saintly, Nizamuddin Auliya is said to have seen a beggar Zafar Khan, arriving at the Nizammuddin’s door, the mystic remarked a king was at his door.

The prediction came true, he would go on to become Ala-ud-Din Hasan Bahman Shah the founder of the Bahmani Sultanate

At another time, when a drunkard was speaking ill of Nizamuddin Auliya, the holy man appeared out of thin air to rebuke him.

The man gave up the drink

Then there was the marabout Ma al-'Aynayn who led the anti-colonial resistance against the French in the late 19th and early 20th Century.

Once during a mighty storm, he was on board a ship that was sinking.

The crew turned to him in desperation and with a whispered word, the storm let up and the ship rose out of the water and righted itself.

Another time, thieves stole his camels so he cursed them. Immediately they caught aflame and were forced to return his camels.

Amadou Bamba was another famous miracle-worker and anti-colonial leader.

The Senegalese mystic led a non-violent resistance against the French, inspiring countless to his cause.

Fearing his influence, the French kidnapped him and chained him to a boat. When it came time for prayer they refused him so he whispered a prayer and the chains promptly broke.

He leaped overboard onto a floating prayer rug on the water where he did his salah.

The stories of miracles speak to the influence of popular religion, particularly historical figures whose charisma or knowledge became legendary.

It’s interesting how many of these figures often operated on the edges of society, were popular preachers, or resistance-fighters.

For scholars, miracles and miracle-workers can be an interesting site of exploring how Muslims envision sacredness in the world and the role of popular religion.

While you are hear check out @KeepingIt_101 where I join the brilliant @ProfIRMF and @mpgPhD talk about jinn, astrology, history as necromancy, and so much more!

A fun conversation with my two favorite scholars. https://keepingit101.com/e309 

We’ll continue to explore Islamic cosmology and history in future threads.