Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. What is the logical evidence of the existence of karamah?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Karamah originates from an Arabic word (الكرامة). Lexically, it means honour while the term is used to explain extraordinary occurrences that happens to a beloved servant of Allah SWT (wali) as an honour that Allah SWT blessed them with. Al-Jurjani in his book al-Ta’rifat said, karamah is an extraordinary incident specifically given by Allah for His pious and obedient servant without him being a prophet. (See al-Ta’rifat by al-Jurjani, pg. 235)
While Imam al-Qusyairi said, karamah is considered as something that defies nature. It is also as something that is considered as an extraordinary thing given by Allah SWT to His chosen beloved servants. (See al-Risalah al-Qusyairiyyah, pg. 525)
Among the examples of karamah is mentioned in the saying of Allah SWT where the story of Saidatina Maryam is stated as:
فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًا ۖ قَالَ يَا مَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّـهِ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
So, her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where is this [coming] to you?" She said, "It is from Allah. Indeed, Allah provides for whom He wills without account."
Surah Ali Imran (37)
Syeikh Abd al-Rahman al-Sa’di said: The above verse is an evidence regarding karamah that is specified for His beloved servants (wali) of which is an extraordinary occurrence, which has been stated in hadiths regarding this matter. It’s different for those who are doubtful about karamah. (See Taisir al-Karim al-Rahman fi Tafsir Kalam al-Mannan, 1/285)
Answering the above question, logically, if karamah does not exist, then it must be for one of two reasons; whether Allah SWT is unable to create it or the believers are unable to accept it. For this matter is clearly impossible or inconceivable.
The first factor shows the weakness of Allah SWT, which is the perception that Allah SWT is weak and unable to do something where such belief is clearly a sign of disbelief. The second factor is void for knowing the characteristics, attributes and actions of Allah SWT continuously is obligatory. While every believer is blessed with makrifah (knowledge), mahabbah (love), zikr (remembrance) and gratefulness, where it is a given that he would believe extraordinary occurrences that is named as karamah.
A royal guard usually is free to roam his control area. He is able to do things that others wouldn’t be able to. Logically, when he is really close to the king, he would be able to access all sorts of facilitations. Hence, the closeness is the basis and status while the facilitation is the resulting benefit of it. The God and Authority of all things is Allah SWT. He is the Sovereign king of everything. He is the one who honour and acknowledge the ones close to Him with guidance and blessings. Thus, it is clear that those who are close to Allah SWT such as his beloved servants (wali), then it is not impossible for them the be blessed with karamah from Allah SWT.
As a conclusion, we cite the statement of Sayyid Qutb when he was commenting on the verse “عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ” means “a person who has knowledge from the Book of Allah SWT,” saying: Tafsir scholars presented various commentaries on this verse. Some said that the book is the holy book of Torah. While others said, he is a person who knows the secret of ismullah al-a’zam (اسم الله الأعظم). Whilst, others have their own opinions so and so and what they presented is not a commentary or explanation of which the truth can be ascertained.
This matter is easier to be considered by examining the reality rather that the commentaries. How many of this universe’s secrets that we are unable to fathom? How many energies of this universe that we are still unable to harness and control? How many of the matters pertaining the human soul that we are still unable to understand?
When Allah SWT wish to showcase His love to His beloved servants through any of these unknown matters, then this extraordinary occurrence will happen according to His will through His power and sovereignty, where If He do not will it for them, then surely it will not happen. (See Fi Zilal al-Quran, 12/167)
May Allah SWT make us from among those who are close to Him and among those who He love and care about. Amin.