—a phenomenon that defies the normal order of creation. Allah causes such an event to occur at the hands of one of His friends to honor him, strengthen him, and validate the truth he upholds. At the same time, it serves as a miracle for the Messenger whom that saint follows. The scholars have explained that extraordinary occurrences fall into three categories:
- Signs granted to the prophets.
- Karāmāt bestowed upon the awliyāʾ (Allah’s devoted friends).
- Humiliations wrought by devils—extraordinary feats that Allah allows, contrary to the ordinary course, to appear at the hands of the devils; we seek refuge in Allah from them.
The mark of each category is clear: the one through whom the wonder appears is either a prophet, a friend of the Most Merciful, or a friend of Satan. It is also certain that after the death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ no marvel can ever be deemed a prophetic miracle, for prophethood has ended with him, the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. What remains are karāmāt, along with satanic states, sleight-of-hand, sorcery, and similar deceptions.
A true karāma is identified by the fact that Allah causes it to occur at the hands of a righteous servant from among His awliyāʾ. Allah’s friends are the believers who are conscious of Him, as He, exalted be He, says: “Behold! The friends of Allah shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve—those who believe and remain mindful of Him” (Qur’an 10:62-63). Therefore, if an extraordinary event takes place through a virtuous, believing, God-fearing person who is known for goodness, it is called a karāma.
The third category comprises sorcery and satanic states, which manifest through the agents of tyranny.