5 Miracles of Muhammad That Never Happened: Debunking Islamic Myths

Islamic tradition is filled with stories of miraculous events attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, presented as proof of his divine mission. These miracles are often cited by Muslim scholars and apologists to demonstrate Muhammad’s special status among the prophets. However, a careful examination of the Quran — the most authoritative text in Islam — reveals a different story. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes that Muhammad performed no miracles beyond delivering the Quran itself.

In this article, we will examine five of the most famous miracles attributed to Muhammad and demonstrate why they are either false, exaggerated, or have no basis in the Quran.

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1. The Splitting of the Moon

The Claim:

• Muslim tradition holds that Muhammad split the moon in half at the request of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca as a sign of his prophethood.

• This story is based on Hadiths found in Sahih Bukhari (Volume 4, Book 56, Hadith 830) and Sahih Muslim (Book 39, Hadith 6725).

The Reality:

• The Quranic verse often cited to support this miracle is Surah Al-Qamar (54:1-2):

  • "The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split. But if they see a sign, they turn away and say, 'This is a continuous magic.'"

• However, this verse does not describe a miraculous event but rather a prophecy of the end times, where the splitting of the moon is a sign of the Last Day.

• There is no independent historical record or eyewitness account of a physical moon-splitting event during Muhammad’s lifetime.

• Early non-Muslim records from Persia, India, and the Byzantine Empire — which would have certainly noticed a split moon — contain no such account.

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2. Water Flowing from Muhammad's Fingers

The Claim:

• It is claimed that Muhammad performed a miracle where water miraculously flowed from his fingers, providing enough water for his companions to drink and perform ablution (ritual washing).

• This story is found in Sahih Bukhari (Volume 1, Book 4, Hadith 170).

The Reality:

• There is no Quranic basis for this miracle. The Quran does not mention any instance where Muhammad miraculously produced water.

• The story is found only in Hadith literature, which was compiled centuries after Muhammad’s death, often based on unreliable chains of transmission.

• Even within Islamic tradition, Hadith are graded on authenticity, and this story is considered a weak Hadith (Da'if) by many scholars due to inconsistencies in the narration.

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3. The Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj)

The Claim:

• Muhammad is said to have traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem in a single night (Isra) and then ascended to the heavens (Mi'raj), where he met with previous prophets and received instructions on Islamic prayer.

• This event is based on Surah Al-Isra (17:1), which states:

  • "Glory be to Him who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque."

• The details of the journey, including the seven heavens and Muhammad's encounters with previous prophets, are found in Hadith literature.

The Reality:

• The Quran only mentions a "journey by night" without specifying that it was a miraculous event.

• The Hadith versions of the story contain numerous contradictions and fantastical elements:

  • In some versions, Muhammad travels on a winged creature called Buraq.

  • In others, he sees heaven and hell and receives instructions for prayer.

• The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem — the site associated with this event — did not exist during Muhammad's lifetime, making the story anachronistic.

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4. The Multiplication of Food

The Claim:

• Muhammad is said to have miraculously multiplied food on several occasions to feed his companions, such as:

  • Multiplying dates in a basket.

  • Filling a pot with food that never ran out.

• These stories are found in Sahih Bukhari (Volume 4, Book 56, Hadith 780) and Sahih Muslim (Book 44, Hadith 6763).

The Reality:

• There is no mention of Muhammad performing any food multiplication miracle in the Quran.

• These stories appear exclusively in Hadith, which were compiled long after Muhammad's death and are subject to historical scrutiny.

• Many of these miracle stories were likely added to elevate Muhammad to the same status as Jesus, who is explicitly described in the Quran as performing food multiplication (Quran 5:110).

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5. Healing the Sick and Blind

The Claim:

• Some Hadith claim that Muhammad healed the sick, the blind, and even cured a wounded man's eye simply by touching it.

• This is found in Sahih Bukhari (Volume 4, Book 56, Hadith 748) and Sahih Muslim (Book 31, Hadith 5961).

The Reality:

• The Quran explicitly denies that Muhammad had the power to perform miracles of healing:

  • "I am only a warner and a bringer of good news for those who believe." (Quran 7:188)

  • "The Prophet is only a messenger..." (Quran 3:144)

• Unlike Jesus, who is described as performing healing miracles by Allah’s permission (Quran 5:110), Muhammad is not described as performing any such miracles in the Quran.

• The Hadith stories of Muhammad’s healing powers are inconsistent and conflict with the Quran’s clear message that he was only a messenger.

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Conclusion: The Reality Behind the Myth of Muhammad’s Miracles

The stories of Muhammad’s miracles are primarily found in the Hadith literature — texts that were compiled centuries after his death and are subject to historical scrutiny. The Quran, which is supposed to be the final and unchangeable word of Allah, denies that Muhammad performed miracles except for delivering the Quran itself.

Key Takeaways:

• The Quran emphasizes that Muhammad was a human messenger, not a miracle-worker.

• The most famous miracles attributed to Muhammad have no basis in the Quran.

• Many of these miracle stories were likely invented to match the miraculous acts of previous prophets like Moses and Jesus.

• By critically examining these claims, it becomes clear that the legend of Muhammad’s miracles is a later theological invention, not a historical fact.