for treatment. “And the leper” refers to the one for whom medicine avails nothing, for he has been struck with leprosy and his ailment has become chronic. “And when you brought the dead forth”—that is, out of their graves—alive, by My permission.
We have already cited ample reports showing that this occurred on numerous occasions.
His words, “And when I restrained the Children of Israel from you when you came to them with clear proofs, but those of them who disbelieved said, ‘This is nothing but obvious sorcery,’” refer to the moment they sought to crucify him. Allah therefore raised him up to Himself and rescued him from their midst, safeguarding his noble person from harm and sparing them destruction.
As for His saying, “And [remember] when I inspired the disciples, ‘Believe in Me and in My Messenger.’ They said, ‘We believe; bear witness that we are Muslims,’” some hold that this inspiration was an inner prompting—Allah guided and directed them to Jesus—just as He said, “Your Lord inspired the bee” (al-Naḥl: 68) and “We inspired the mother of Moses: ‘Nurse him…’” (al-Qaṣaṣ: 7).
Others maintain that it was revelation conveyed by an angel, coupled with divine enabling of their hearts to accept the truth; hence their response, “We believe; bear witness that we are Muslims.” (1)
This is among the favors Allah bestowed upon His servant and messenger Jesus son of Mary: He granted him helpers, supporters, and disciples (2) who stood by him and, alongside him, called people to worship Allah alone with no partner. Likewise, Allah said to His servant Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him):
“He is the One who supported you with His help and with the believers, and knit their hearts together. Had you spent all that is on earth, you could not have knit their hearts together; but Allah knit them together. Truly He is Mighty, Wise.” (al-Anfāl: 62–63)
He also said:
“He will teach him the Book and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel, and [make him] a messenger to the Children of Israel: ‘I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I shall create for you out of clay the form of a bird, then breathe into it, and it will become a bird by Allah’s permission. I shall heal the blind and the leper and bring the dead to life by Allah’s permission, and I shall inform you of what you eat and what you store in your houses. Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers. And [I come] confirming what was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me. Indeed Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him; this is a straight path.’ But when Jesus sensed their disbelief, he said, ‘Who are my helpers for the cause of Allah?’ The disciples said, ‘We are the helpers of Allah: we believe in Allah; bear witness that we are Muslims. Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down and we follow the Messenger, so record us among the witnesses.’ And they plotted, and Allah plotted; and Allah is the best of planners.” (Āl ʿImrān: 48–54)
The miracle given to each prophet matched what prevailed among the people of his era. It is related that Moses (peace be upon him) was granted a miracle suited to his contemporaries, who were sharp-witted masters of magic. He was therefore sent with signs that dazzled the eyes and bowed the necks. Because those magicians were well versed in the arts of magic and knew its limits, when they beheld the overwhelming, awe-inspiring event