الحمد لله رب العالمين، وصلى الله وسلم على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، أما بعد
Shaikh ul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:
“Indeed; the signs of the Prophets are from that which the intelligent ones know are exclusive to them. They are not from that which can be for other than them, so they know that Allaah does not create the like of them for other than the Prophets. Whether in their signs which occurred during the lifetime of their people, and their signs through which Allaah distinguished by way of between their followers and their beliers – with the success of these ones and the destruction of these ones – is not from that which is homogenous to what is found in the various commonalities of other than them.
That is such as Allaah’s drowning of all of the people of the earth – except for Nooh (Noah) and those that boarded along with him on the ark. This – its equivalent has never occurred in the world.
Likewise the destruction of the people of ‘Aad (with) Iram – who had lofty pillars, the like of which were not created in the land, despite their abundance and their strength and the grandeur of their structures – the like of which were not created in the land. Then they were destroyed by a furious violent wind imposed (upon them) for seven nights and eight days in succession – such that they all became as though they were hollow date palm-trunks; whilst (the Prophet) Hood was saved along with those that followed him. This – its equivalent is not to be found in the world.
Likewise the people of Saalih; the associates of the cities and the dwellings in the plains and the mountains and the orchards; they were all destroyed by a single awful cry. This – its equivalent is not to be found in the world.
Likewise the people of Lūt (Lot); the associates of the numerous townships; which were hoisted up to the heavens – then overturned upon them, and were followed by rocks from the sky; in accordance to their irregularity. Yet Lūt was saved as was his family – except his wife, there afflicted her that which afflicted them. This – its equivalent is not to be found in the world.
Likewise the people of Pharaoh and Moosaa (Moses), two great multitudes – the sea separates apart for them, each separate part being like a great towering mountain. So these ones traverse it and so emerge (from it) safe and sound; yet when the others traverse it – the water closes upon them. This – its equivalent is not to be found in the world.
So these signs – the intellectuals in general know that they are not from the homogenous nature of that which the progeny of Aadam (Adam) die from. Some people may be afflicted with plague and some others with drought and the like of that; and this is from that which the people are accustomed to; and yet it is from the signs of Allaah from another aspect, rather every occurrence is from the signs of Allaah, The Most High. However; these signs are not from the category of what is commonplace…
Likewise that which Allaah did with the companions of the elephant – when they desired its obliteration (the Ka’bah), He, The Most High, said:
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ * أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِي تَضْلِيلٍ * وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ * تَرْمِيهِمْ بِحِجَارَةٍ مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ * فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَأْكُولٍ
((Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant? Did He not make their plot go astray? And He sent against them birds in flocks. Striking them with stones of baked clay. So He rendered them like devoured straw.)) (Soorah Al-Fīl: 1-5)
It was aimed for by an immense army; and with them were elephants, so its people fled from them, yet the elephants knelt down and were prevented from marching in its direction, and if they were faced in other than its direction – they would proceed. Then from the sea there came to them birds in flocks, meaning: groups in divisions, troop after troop, they threw down pebbles upon them from which they all perished. This – is from that which its equivalent is not to be found in the world.
So the signs of the Prophets are proofs and clear indications of their truthfulness, and it is necessary that proof is duly qualified by way of that which it seeks to substantiate; it cannot be found in its absence. Proof cannot be ascertained except alongside ascertainment of that which is substantiated.”
Shaikh ul Islaam said likewise:
“So if you are aware of the stories of the Prophets – and those that followed them – as well as those that belied them, and that their followers were given success, final outcome, victory and bliss, and that those that belied them had destruction and perdition; then the affair for the future has been made just as it was in the past. Hence it is known that whoever attests to their truthfulness shall be blissful, and whoever belies them shall be wretched. And this is the Sunnah of Allaah – as well as His Practice.”[1]
(Taken from: Kitaab an-Nubuwaat vol 1 p.508 [with abridgement] and vol 2 p.964)
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[1] Shaikh ul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned elsewhere: “He, The Glorified has made clear that this one and this one (i.e. following the Prophets or opposing them) – both of them are paths for mankind, they see them with their very eyes. So by way of that they know of that which Allaah did with those who belied His Messengers and disobeyed them, as well as the signification of the aid of Allaah for the believers and of His taking retribution from the disbelievers – as: the truthful nature of the Prophets being from the type of signification of the signs and miracles which are indicative of their very truthfulness. So the fact that this was done due to this, and the fact that that was the reason for this is something that is necessarily known – upon contemplation of the affair in accordance to that which it is upon, such as the staff turning into a snake following Pharaoh’s request for a sign, and the splitting of the moon at the request of the polytheists of Makkah for a sign – and the likes of that.” (See: Jawaab as-Saheeh liman Baddala Deen al-Maseeh vol 6 p.393)
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