What do the ulama of the pristine Sharī’ah say concerning the proof for the Karāmāt of the Awliyā and the legal verdict concerning the one who denies these Marvels?
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
The manifestation of phenomena, which break the habitual norm, without an accompanying claim of Prophethood, from a Walī (‘friend’ of Allāh/saint), are known as Karāmāt (marvels). The Karāmāt of the Awliyā are a true reality and upon this there are numerous evidences from the Qur’ān, the Sunnah and the reliable texts of the salaf (righteous predecessors). This belief is from the darūriyāt (necessary beliefs) of the Ahl al-Sunnah. Therefore anyone who denies the Karāmāt of the Awliya’ is a misguided heretic.
Some of these evidences are presented below:
Allāh (Most Transcendent) mentioning the statement of Sayyidunā Sulaymān (peace be upon him) states:
{Said Sulaiman, “O court members, which one of you can bring me her throne before they come humbled in my presence?” An extremely evil jinn said, “I will bring it in your presence before you disperse the assembly; and I am indeed strong and trustworthy upon it. Said one who had knowledge of the Book, “I will bring it in your majesty’s presence before you bat your eyelid”}
[Surah al-Naml 27:38]
The famous Qur’anic exegesist Muftī Ahmad Yār Khān Na’īmī (may Allāh shower him with mercy) states beneath this Ayāh:
“From this it becomes known that Wilāyah (the station of sainthood) is true and that the Karāmāt of the Awliyā are a true reality.”
[Nūr al-‘Irfān page 816]
Allāh (Most Transcendent) also mentions:
{Whenever Zakaria visited her at her place of prayer, he found new food with her; he said, “O Maryam! From where did this come to you?” She answered, “It is from Allah}
[Sūrah Maryam 3:37]
In Khazā’in al-‘Irfān beneath this ayah it is mentioned:
“This ayah is proof that the Marvels of the Awliyā are an established reality in that Allāh manifests at their hands matters which break the habitual norm.”
The famed Qur’anic exegesist Muftī Ahmad Yār Khān Na’īmī (may Allāh shower him with mercy) mentions under the chapter of the Marvels of the Awliya’:
“The word Karāmāt is the plural of karāmah in the meaning of reverence and respect. In the terminology of the Sharī’ah karāmāt are those strange and amazing matters that manifest at the hands of a Walī. The truth of the matter is that a matter which can be a Mu’jizah (Miracle) for a Prophet then that matter can also become a Karāmah (Marvel) for a Walī, except for that Mu’jizah which is a proof for Prophethood such as Wahī (revelation) and the Qur’anic Ayāt. The Mu’tazilah (ultra rationalist seceders) denied Marvels but according to Ahl al-Sunnah Karāmāt are a proven reality. Sayyidunā Asif bin Barkhiyā’s (may Allāh be pleased with him) bringing of the Throne of Bilqīs before the batting of an eyelid from Yemen to al-Shām, Sayyidah Maryam’s (may Allāh be pleased with here) conceiving without a husband and eating from food received from the unseen, Ashāb al-Kahf’s (the sleepers of the cave) remaining alive for hundreds of years without food and water, are all karāmāt established from the Qur’ān. Sayyidunā Ghawth e A’zham’s karāmāt are numerous.”
[Mir’āt al-Manājīh Volume 8 page 268]
Al-Hāfizh Mullā ‘Alī al-Qārī (may Allāh shower him with mercy) states under the chapter of the Karāmāt of the Awliyā’:
“Karāmāt is the plural of Karāmah and it is a noun derived from al-Ikrām and al-Takrīm and it is an action that breaks the habitual norm, which is not associated with a challenge. It has been acknowledged by the Ahl al-Sunnah and the Mu’tazilah rejected it. Ahl al-Sunnah establish proof upon it with the conceiving of Sayyidah Maryam (may Allāh be pleased with here) without a husband and the occurrence of food before her without any outward means. Also in the story of the Sleepers of the Cave (may Allāh be pleased with them) who remained asleep for 300 years and more in the cave, alive without any harm, is a clear evidence and similarly in Asif bin Barkhiyā’s (may Allāh be pleased with him) bringing the throne of Bilqīs before the blinking of an eye is a clear proof [the meaning of this has been mentioned above].”
[Mirqāt al-Mafātīh Volume 11 pg 88]
‘Allāmah al-Nasafī (may Allāh shower him with mercy) says:
“The Karāmāt of the Awliyā are a true reality. So we find the Karāmah manifesting by way of breaking the habitual norm for a Walī through covering a large distance in a short period of time.”
In his commentary upon this ‘Allāmah Taftāzānī (may Allāh shower him with mercy) says:
“Like the companion of Sayyidunā Sulayman (peace be upon him), and he is Asif bin Barkhiyā (may Allāh be please with him), according to the most famous opinion, bringing the throne of Bilqis before the twinkling of an eye from a distant place.”
[Sharh al-‘Aqā’id al-Nasafiyyah pg 146]
In Sharh Fiqh Akbar it is stated:
“Karāmāt are true for the Awliyā i.e. they are established through the Book of Allāh and the Sunnah and no consideration is given to the opposition of the Mu’tazilah and others from Ahl al-Bid’ah in their denial of Karāmāat.”
[Sharh Fiqh Akbar pg 130]
Imām Ahl al-Sunnah Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān (may Allāh shower him with mercy) states:
“Denial of the Karāmāt of the Awliyā is misguidance.”
[Fatāwā Ridwiyyah Volume 14 pg 324]
Sadr al-Sharī’ah Muftī Muhammad Amjad ‘Alī al-A’zhamī (may Allāh shower him with mercy) states:
“The Karāmāt of the Awliyā are true, the one who denies this is misguided. Bringing the dead back to life, curing those born blind and lepers, traveling the entire earth from east to west in one step, for that matter all acts that break the habitual norm are possible for the Awliyā except that Mu’jizah which is established as being impossible for others. Like producing a surah like the Glorious Qur’an or being blessed with the Divine Vision of Allah in this world in a waking state or to converse directly with Allah. Whosoever claims this for himself or any Walī is a disbeliever.”
[Bahār e Sharī’at Volume 1 pg 268]
الله أعلم عز و جل و رسوله أعلم صلى الله تعالى عليه وآله و سلم
Answered by Muftī Abu al-Hasan Fudayl Ridā al-Attārī (may Allāh pardon him)
18th Muharram al-Harām 1435 AH (23rd November 2013)
Translated by Ustādh Ibrar Shafi
Dār al-Iftā Ahl al-Sunnah (Da’wat e Islami)
