The proofs of prophethood are numerous, varied, and beyond limitation.
One of them is the miracle (muʿjizah). Linguistically, the word is the active participle derived from ʿajaza, “to be incapable,” the opposite of ability. Al-Qāmūs defines a prophet’s muʿjizah as “that by which he incapacitates his opponent when challenged”; the final tāʾ is for emphasis. A miracle is thus an extraordinary event that breaks the customary order, which God brings about at the hand of the person He chooses for prophethood, so that it may attest to his truthfulness and to the validity of his mission.
The messengers, peace be upon them, were granted many miracles: the she-camel given to Ṣāliḥ as a proof against his people; the transformation of the staff into a serpent for Moses; the healing of the congenitally blind and the leprous and the raising of the dead for Jesus. Our Prophet Muḥammad—may God bless him and grant him peace—likewise possessed many miracles, the greatest of which is the Noble Qur’an, the everlasting sign with which God challenged both jinn and humankind. Other examples include the Night Journey and Ascension, the splitting of the moon, the pebbles that glorified God in his palm, the moaning of the palm-trunk for him, and his foretelling of future and past events.
The proofs of prophethood are not limited to miracles alone, as some theologians claim; rather, they are many and diverse.
Among them is the prophets’ prediction to their peoples of forthcoming victories, the defeat of their enemies, and the ultimate triumph reserved for the believers—events that unfolded exactly as foretold, without a single exception. This occurred with Noah, Hūd, Ṣāliḥ, Shuʿayb, Abraham, Lot, Moses, and our Prophet Muḥammad—may God’s prayers and peace be upon them all—as God has narrated in His Book.
Another proof lies in the fact that the laws and reports they brought exhibit the utmost precision and perfection, unveil realities, and guide humanity—something that can proceed only from the most knowledgeable and the most righteous of people.
Yet another is that God grants them continual support; and it is known from His established way—glorified is He—that He never supports