Understanding the Qurʾanic Miracle Stories in the Modern Age

Incoherence of the Philosophers (Tahāfut al-falāsifa)

The Arabic term for miracle, mu‘jiza, comes from the root ‘ajaza (to be overwhelmed) and literally means that which overpowers, overwhelms, and paralyzes. The traditional Islamic theology has come to define the term “miracle” as the event by means of which a prophet of God overwhelms his opponents.

The Qur’an does not follow a particular chronology: unlike the Old Testament or the Tanakh, it does not start with a creation story and move along a trajectory of salvation history. Nor does it offer a biography of Muhammad’s life or a story of his ministry, unlike the Gospels. The Qur’an usually does not contain extended narratives either.