Exploring Miraculous Events in the Quran: Literal or Metaphorical Interpretation

[Fusion]

Dear All,

Over the years, members of this site have talked a lot about the miraculous events mentioned in the Quran. Traditional scholars often interpret these events literally, but the folks on this website may have different views among themselves.

I want to list these miraculous events and ask everyone for their opinions as short. Do you believe in the literal translation, or do you have another interpretation? and if yes why do you believe these are Allegorical in understanding?

Let us have a respectful and insightful sharing of understanding, of course with in the context of Quran but again interprations and understanding may differ.
To make it meaningful, I will quote the non-traitional interpreations of GA Pervez
https//www.parwez.tv/abid/mufhoom_1/by_G_A_parwez/Exposition%20of%20Quran.htm

1. Splitting of the Sea (Moses)

Reference Quran 2663 (Arabic "فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِعَصَاكَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَٱنفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَٱلطَّوْدِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ", English "So We inspired to Moses, 'Strike with your staff the sea,' and it split, and each part became like a great mountain.&quot
Traditional Interpretation A miraculous intervention by God, displaying His power to save Moses and the Israelites by parting the sea.
GA Pervez
So We sent a revelation to Moses, saying; "Take your people to the sea/river (from a particular direction) and then cross it at a point where it has become dry.” (2077; 4424)

2. The Virgin Birth (Jesus)
   Traditional Interpretation A divine miracle where Mary gives birth to Jesus without any male intervention, highlighting the miraculous power of God.
   Reference Quran 1920-21 (Arabic "قَالَتْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّۭا. قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ إِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ", English "She said, 'How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?' He said, 'Thus Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees something, He says to it only, 'Be,' and it is.&quot
   GA Pervez
   She said, "How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me.” (When I was in the temple, I lived a virtuous life; and since I came out, I have not got married as this is against the clerical laws ~ 346; 1928.)
   He said, "Whatever I have told you, will happen according to Allah's law of creation (346). This is easy for Him (to remove all the hindrances which are in your mind and which perturb you ~ 199). Allah has also said that this child will not be like other children. He will be from our side an embodiment of Rahmat for the people; and a testimonial for truth and falsehood. (Whoever brings Eiman on his Nabuwat will be on the right path, while the one who rejects it will be wrong.) And this is already decreed by Us (that the child will be Our Messenger ~ 347).
   (And gradually all impediments were removed and the fear of clerical taboos vanished from Mary's mind. At the same time, in spite of warnings and intimidation from the priests, one person agreed to marry Mary.) In time Mary conceived the child and consequently they (both of them) considered it appropriate to move to a far off place (so that the child would be born at a place where no one knew them; and where they would be safe from the wrath and accusations of the priests).

3. Reviving the Dead
   Traditional Interpretation Prophets like Jesus were given the power to revive the dead as a sign of their divine authority and God's supremacy by the order of God.
   Reference Quran 349 (Arabic "وَأُحْيِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ", English "And I give life to the dead by the permission of Allah.&quot
   GA Pervez
   Jesus will say to the Bani-Isr’ael, “(The Law which I have received through revelation is not a new one.) It will validate what has been said before in the Torah (and liberate you from your self-made Shari’at – 4/160, 6/147, 16/11 and to make lawful unto you some of the things which had been forbidden to you (earlier). And I have come with a message from your Sustainer so always abide by the Laws of Allah and follow me.”
   Mary was also told that her son will not be like ordinary children. Allah will give him the Book based on wisdom and reveal to him knowledge of the Torah and Bible, sending him as a Nabi to Bani-Isr’ael to whom he will say “I bring to you a life-giving message from your Rabb. Through this revelation I will give you new life so that you can rise above the depths to which you have sunk and be able to soar high in the sky” (5/110). In all this is indeed a message for you, but only if you have faith in it.
   At present you are sightless; this revelation will give you sight so that you can walk on the right path. At present, fields of your activities are barren and lifeless; through the revelation they will become green and fruitful. Your mean disposition due to which others shun you will be transformed.
   In short, your present death-like state of disgrace and degradation will be changed into a new life.

4. The Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj)
   Traditional Interpretation A physical and/or spiritual journey undertaken by Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to heaven, affirming his prophethood and the miracles associated with it.
   Reference Quran 171 (Arabic "سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَىٰ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِي بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ", English "Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.&quot
   GA Pervez
   (1) (The atmosphere in Makkah had become unbearable for the Jama’at-ul-Momineen and there was a little hope that the message of Islam would be accepted by those who had not only rejected it but planned to kill the Rasool.) Limitless glory to Allah who moved his devotee one night from the sacred mosque (of Makkah) to the farthest mosque (in Madina - where atmosphere was much more conducive) and its environs We had blessed. The purpose of the migration was that the promises made by Allah with him in Makkah should be fulfilled. Most certainly Allah is all Hearing and All-Seeing (20/23). (Therefore every decision of His is based on Knowledge and Wisdom.)

5. Creation of Adam
   Traditional Interpretation God created Adam from clay as the first human, breathing life into him, demonstrating God’s creative power.
   Reference Quran 3871-72 (Arabic "إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَـٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًۭا مِّن طِينٍۢ فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَـٰجِدِينَ", English "When your Lord said to the angels, 'Indeed, I am going to create a human being from clay. So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My soul, then fall down to him in prostration.'&quot
   GA Pervez
   When the human being reaches a stage where it has acquired the best of proportions in every respect (after passing through all the developmental/evolutionary stages, and I breathe into it a sparkle of My energy, he attains a human personality capable of making choices and discretions. Then, at that stage, you (Malaika) should bow before him

6. Solomon and the Ants
   Solomon was granted the ability to understand animals, demonstrating his unique prophetic wisdom. The story illustrates his compassion and awareness, as he heeds the warning of an ant to avoid harming it and its fellow ants unintentionally.
   Reference Quran 2718-19 (Arabic "حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌۭ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمْلُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مَسَـٰكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ", English "Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, 'O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not.'&quot
   GA Pervez
   (At one time Soloman learnt that the State of Sheba was planning to attack. So as a precaution he took his army towards them. The valley of Namal was on the way and like that of the State of Sheba, its head of state was a woman. When she received the news of this army, she ordered her subjects to remain in their dwellings to save themselves. Without ascertaining whether they had any connection or alliance with their enemy the State of Sheba, she was afraid that the troops might crush them. (This is normal action when armies invade. It is better to move out of their way.)

7. Age of Noah

Traditional Interpretation Noah is one of the longest-lived prophets in Islamic tradition. According to the Quran, he preached to his people for 950 years before the great flood occurred. This extended lifespan is seen as a testament to his perseverance in delivering God's message despite the continued disbelief of his people.
Reference Quran 2914 (Arabic "وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمُ الطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ", English "And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.&quot
GA Pervez
(However there is nothing strange in what they are saying. Consider the history of the tussle between good and evil, starting from the times long past. Firstly you will notice that) We sent forth Noah unto his people and his era lasted for a period of nine hundred and fifty years. (Then the period of Abraham started.)* (His people opposed him strongly and) The result was that the deluge overtook them; as indeed they were the 'Zalimeen'.

In short, what I am trying to understand is how those verses of Quran are interpreted by the people who follow only Quran. As I know some of the folks here leave the understanding of Quran completely open to every individual and even close to say Prophets and Messsengers may also not know the full depth of understanding of verses of the scriptures. Hence I am quite interested to know how are you going to interpret these verses; taking them literally or as a metaphor or perhaps a mix of both--- and based on what logic and attained knowledge of Quran.

I have given an example translation from GA Pervez which is sort of complete extreme version of not taking things literally and my understanding differs from his but I quoted him as an example
For example His interpretation of the chapter 105 The elephand which atleast I grew up understanding from my elders is quite different I was told to believe the literal translation that أَبَابِيلَ i do not know carrying stones protected the sacred site by pelting the army, leading to their destruction.

See below

SURAH 105 Al-Fîl
1.(If these opponents are under the false impression that none can defeat a powerful and mighty force like theirs, you should tell them) "Have you not seen, with your own eyes how your Rabb dealt with the army which had elephants?
2.“You saw with your own eyes how He rendered their artful planning utterly unsuccessful.
3. They had selected an unknown and unsuspected pass on the other side of the mountain, so that they could lead a sudden attack and take you unawares.) “But flocks of eagles and vultures (which normally fly over the armies to pick up remnants of dead bodies or other eatables) started hovering over their heads. In this way you realised from a distance, that some army was on the move behind the mountains (their secret plan was thus exposed).

4-5. “Therefore you climbed over the mountain and started pelting them with stones, crushing their army and making them to look like chewed-up stubble."
(All this happened before your very eyes. When such a mighty army can be defeated, then what about yourself. All your secret plans will also fail.)

Appreciate GL and other to provide in short their understanding of the above apparant miraculous verses

Thanks

[jkhan]

It would be better had you given your conviction on all these numbered questions... isn't it?

Do you think all these are literal symbolic or metaphorical?
where do you stand as of now? Are you confused are you in between or are you more towards metaphorical? Please explain your current stance that would help in case I am to participate in this debate or discussion depending on others understanding and explanation.. There is truth in in Quran and these past actual events whatever the nature of them ... So, let's keep the truth on top and not assumptions.. Are you ready to cooperate with truth or keep on asking this for ages..

thank you

[Fusion]

It would be better had you given your conviction on all these numbered questions... isn't it?

Do you think all these are literal symbolic or metaphorical?
where do you stand as of now? Are you confused are you in between or are you more towards metaphorical? Please explain your current stance that would help in case I am to participate in this debate or discussion depending on others understanding and explanation.. There is truth in in Quran and these past actual events whatever the nature of them ... So, let's keep the truth on top and not assumptions.. Are you ready to cooperate with truth or keep on asking this for ages..

thank you

Dear Jkhan,
As you said Quran holds the truth, and purpose is to uncover that truth, hence my aim in starting this thread is to understand the diverse perspectives and to learn from each other’s insights.

Regarding your comment about cooperating with the truth or asking questions for ages, I just want to say that my goal is to seek understanding and clarity. Learning and seeking knowledge is never ending and every person's own journey ends when his/her life ends and the 100% truth will be known when he meets his Lord and that too if the Lord wants to talk to him.

I believe these events as mentioned in the verses, whether literal or metaphorical, convey profound truths and lessons for the ones who want to deep dive into the scripture .

As you pointed out these are past events, and I observed that in some cases, Quran explained some events so well that each and every aspect of the history is presented to the audience. Take for example the case of Prophet Yousef - Chapter 12 starts with these lines
Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran so that you may understand.
We relate to you the best of stories through Our revelation of this Quran, though before this you were totally unaware ˹of them˺.

Compare this with chapter 105, The Elephant, where Quran seems to summarize a full historical event in just a few verses, leaving the rest up to the audience. Perhaps the people at the time were already familiar with the story of the Elephant, but today we can only speculate about what happened based on other historical records.

I know the emphasis for some is to only accept/relate what is mentioned within Quran. But Quran also acknowledges the events of History known to humans from other sources (give and take the authenticity of those events need to be judged based on all humanly possible methods) and Quran only referenced those historical events to make a point
For example, when Quran says 12109 And We did not send before you except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them?

2246
Have these people not travelled in those areas (so that they could take some warning from the ruins); and have their hearts not become wiser to ponder these matters rationally and their ears to listen? (In fact when a person closes his mind, it does not mean that the eyes become blind. They continue seeing things, but their hearts within become blind, thus diminishing their faculties of thought and understanding.)
896-8 Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with 'Aad - Iram - who had lofty pillars, the likes of whom had never been created in the land?

My point is that am at a loss to understand these verses without taking any understanding of the circumstances prevailing, the historical context as some relate to past events, some relate to the power of Lord for example brining Jesus to this world bypassing the natural process which Quran itself mentioned in several verses as under
"So let man observe from what he was created. He was created from a fluid, ejected, emerging from between the backbone and the ribs"

"He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate, and He produced for you from the grazing livestock eight pairs. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted?"

"And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump , and We made the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators."

In view of these verses, I often wonder how Jesus fits into all this? Howerver when I ask this question, I was told that "His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, 'Be,' and it is" But if this is the case then why God mentioned the process is such a delicate manner? Be it may not means to bypass his process which he sets himself. It is not about denying what the good lord can do but understanding these verses from holistic point of view.

Does my view matter now that you've seen my struggle to summarize everything above? I am trying to understand these verses with the knowledge I have gained, which includes not only the Quran but also widely available resources for those who seek them. Should I not consider these sources to understand the context, or should I simply close my mind and focus solely on the literal Quranic verses, endlessly wondering about their meanings.

compared to this

https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqCTq3EeDcY

Another example
chapter 2720
And he took attendance of the birds and said, 'Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?
I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization.
But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, 'I have encompassed that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.

Again how we read such verses?

20. One day, while on the march, Solomon asked for a section of cavalry who at that time were not present there.) When they arrived he asked them, "Where is your chief Hud-Hud? Has he gone somewhere for a while or is he absent from his duty?”

21. If he is absent (then according to the rules of the army) I will severely punish him. And if he does not produce any explicit authority (permission slip), he may even be sentenced to death.

22. Hud-Hud returned after a short while and said, "I had gone deep inside the territory of Sheba for investigation. I have gathered information which previously was not available to you; and since it has been collected by me (personally), it is absolutely reliable.

[jkhan]

Dear Jkhan,
As you said Quran holds the truth, and purpose is to uncover that truth, hence my aim in starting this thread is to understand the diverse perspectives and to learn from each other’s insights.

Regarding your comment about cooperating with the truth or asking questions for ages, I just want to say that my goal is to seek understanding and clarity. Learning and seeking knowledge is never ending and every person's own journey ends when his/her life ends and the 100% truth will be known when he meets his Lord and that too if the Lord wants to talk to him.

I believe these events as mentioned in the verses, whether literal or metaphorical, convey profound truths and lessons for the ones who want to deep dive into the scripture .

As you pointed out these are past events, and I observed that in some cases, Quran explained some events so well that each and every aspect of the history is presented to the audience. Take for example the case of Prophet Yousef - Chapter 12 starts with these lines
Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran so that you may understand.
We relate to you the best of stories through Our revelation of this Quran, though before this you were totally unaware ˹of them˺.

Compare this with chapter 105, The Elephant, where Quran seems to summarize a full historical event in just a few verses, leaving the rest up to the audience. Perhaps the people at the time were already familiar with the story of the Elephant, but today we can only speculate about what happened based on other historical records.

I know the emphasis for some is to only accept/relate what is mentioned within Quran. But Quran also acknowledges the events of History known to humans from other sources (give and take the authenticity of those events need to be judged based on all humanly possible methods) and Quran only referenced those historical events to make a point
For example, when Quran says 12109 And We did not send before you except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them?

2246
Have these people not travelled in those areas (so that they could take some warning from the ruins); and have their hearts not become wiser to ponder these matters rationally and their ears to listen? (In fact when a person closes his mind, it does not mean that the eyes become blind. They continue seeing things, but their hearts within become blind, thus diminishing their faculties of thought and understanding.)
896-8 Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with 'Aad - Iram - who had lofty pillars, the likes of whom had never been created in the land?

My point is that am at a loss to understand these verses without taking any understanding of the circumstances prevailing, the historical context as some relate to past events, some relate to the power of Lord for example brining Jesus to this world bypassing the natural process which Quran itself mentioned in several verses as under
"So let man observe from what he was created. He was created from a fluid, ejected, emerging from between the backbone and the ribs"

"He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate, and He produced for you from the grazing livestock eight pairs. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted?"

"And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump , and We made the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators."

In view of these verses, I often wonder how Jesus fits into all this? Howerver when I ask this question, I was told that "His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, 'Be,' and it is" But if this is the case then why God mentioned the process is such a delicate manner? Be it may not means to bypass his process which he sets himself. It is not about denying what the good lord can do but understanding these verses from holistic point of view.

Does my view matter now that you've seen my struggle to summarize everything above?

I understand... it means you are in confusion...

let me ask one simple question...

Why did King Pharo called the magicians to compete with Musa?

[Fusion]

Thanks for responding with an interesting question.

From the verse mentioned in Quran and taking them as is, it appears like When Pharaoh called the magicians to compete with Moses, he thought Moses was just another magician. This moment in the Quran shows the difference between what people can do and what God can do. In this story, Moses staff turning into a snake and swallowing the magicians' tricks was meant to show everyone, including the magicians, that what Moses had was real power from God, not magic.
But still we can see this story in different ways. Some take it literally, believing exactly what happened as a real miracle to prove God’s power. Others might see it as a story that teaches a lesson about truth winning over deception in fhe form of a debate.
That is why I would love to hear how you see this story and others? In other words do you see all examples quoted happened more or less as it appears in rather literal sense?

[jkhan]

Thanks for responding with an interesting question.

From the verse mentioned in Quran and taking them as is, it appears like When Pharaoh called the magicians to compete with Moses, he thought Moses was just another magician. This moment in the Quran shows the difference between what people can do and what God can do. In this story, Moses staff turning into a snake and swallowing the magicians' tricks was meant to show everyone, including the magicians, that what Moses had was real power from God, not magic.
But still we can see this story in different ways. Some take it literally, believing exactly what happened as a real miracle to prove God’s power. Others might see it as a story that teaches a lesson about truth winning over deception in fhe form of a debate.
That is why I would love to hear how you see this story and others? In other words do you see all examples quoted happened more or less as it appears in rather literal sense?

Well!... don't beat around the bush.... you know something and you are not willing to abide by it.. that's obvious...

Why should King Pharoh think that Moses was a Magician? And what propelled the King to think so? What connection to Musa to Magicians while Musa was not a magician..?
Was Moses really a magician in his life? He was not .... and if not, why everyone including the King should think so..?
So you want to transform a literal and actual incident of the past into a metaphorical one? So strange...

Again reflect...Because I can't convince you and it is not my duty either.. I can only speak with the Quran and within my knowledge.. comprehend and decide.. and you are not weak in knowledge... right.. Allah called Musa near the Fire.. Didn't Allah ask what's in your right hand? For what reason did Musa run away without turning back? Was Musa afraid of Allah's voice or something else which you can't accept..?

In my perception based on your question, it is not confusion but you are willing to go against the truth and that truth doesn't satisfy you for whatever reason, perhaps scientific reasons.. Sorry if I misjudged you.. but through whatever you have written, and that's my assumption... keep reflecting.. there is nothing hidden in those manifest verses for you to keep on questioning as if you have no knowledge of them.. My words may sound against you, but I love to speak the truth within my knowledge.. so be on your own and think and make a decision then question others from your stance..

[Fusion]

I think you summarised it very well.
Thank you for sharing your views about these events, appreciate it.

[good_logic]

Peace Fusion.

Let us go back to a basic belief of GOD.
Why do you believe GOD exist? Who is GOD? Where can you find information about GOD?

Let me give you my own answers to these questions, and how it connects to your queries

1- I believe GOD exists by both faith and reason.
a) Faith because my intellect is limited to this realm and I will never be able to prove/comprehend certain aspects about other realms and how this realm was created and the signs and miracles that I see all over the universe and our earth(using my faculties/reasoning) from our creation and the miracle of how our body functions, grows and ages to the plants ,animals and other creations that are created for us and with us that defy beliefs.
B) Faith ,after seeing proof in GOD s scripture(using my own faculty/reasoning) that can only be from an all knowing ,all wise and omnipresent Entity/GOD the one and only power, to believe what He says in this scripture.
I cannot check many things about "AL Ghaib" with my limited knowledge and reasoning. Although I have to try very hard to use my intellect to its limit.
Once I reached certainty about GOD ,I have to believe GOD because GOD is the perfect being that does not not err ,lie of fabricate legends/stories.

2-So I believe in GOD and believe GOD. I know GOD through His scripture and signs in my body, nature around me/earth and our universe. This comes with faith through faculty/reason and reason/faculty alone.

Now I see miracle as two fold that are from our perspective and from GOD s perspective.

Miracles , from our perspective. are things that are impossible for us to do/create/make happen... Things that require knowledge and power that we do not posses.

There are no miracles for GOD. GOD can do anything. He has the knowledge ,the power, wisdom and the laws. GOD has all the perfect traits ,skills and know how of everything.. He is ever living and omnipresent.. There is no past. present.or future for GOD.

GOD is doing these signs/miracles and addressing us /asking us to reflect / learn a lesson/heed...on His signs /miracles- as far as we are concerned- and doing them for a very good reason.

From your list, I believe the miracles of Moses, Jesus Abraham/ people of the cave-raising the dead...to be literal and some have an abstract meaning as well.
In the case of Soloman and David there could be a mixture of literal and straight forward things that man can do/has reached through our own effort and knowledge.

See where you place each story with your search/comparing interpretations... and take as your intellect concludes for you or put aside as ongoing /not yet arrived at a certainty/conclusion and keep studying/searching. i.e find and be certain about your own interpretation that might agree with what is out there or be new/original.
This is where I think the work has to be done by the individual to reach a satisfactory level and peace of mind.

Of course for me GOD does/shows/reminds with/has done...the miracles for believers. to guide to certainty about Him and His system.
If one does not believe in GOD ,then to them there is no GOD or His miracles.
GOD bless you.
Peace.

[Fusion]

Peace Fusion.
There are no miracles for GOD. GOD can do anything. He has the knowledge ,the power, wisdom and the laws. GOD has all the perfect traits ,skills and know how of everything.. He is ever living and omnipresent.. There is no past. present.or future for GOD.

If one does not believe in GOD ,then to them there is no GOD or His miracles.
GOD bless you.
Peace.

Thank you GL for your reply and it makes sense of what you said about your own understanding of those listed events.
However I like to further present my view for your kind consideration and feeback.

For the first part I agree with you, in fact who would not concur.

The second statement above is where I disagree in my own view to a certain extent. While I understand where you are coming from, I believe that the existence of God and His miracles does not depend on individual belief. God's presence and the manifestations of His power are constants, irrespective of human perception or acceptance. Just as the laws of nature operate independently of our understanding or acknowledgment, so too does God's reality. The challenge, then, is for each person to seek and recognize these truths, often through personal reflection, study, and experience.

Therefore to me personally, it is so obvious the presence of a Creator (when i use my senses(physical/spiritual) it is so obvious undeniable), and this does not need me to believe in Quran or any other scriptures( please do not take my statement as to make me an unbeliever of Quran as am trying to make a point here).
I feel that the presence of a creator is some how in built into our DNA and mostly humans have believed in this concept and hence associate partners with God and indulge in evil affairs. God then send prophets and messengers to warn them not to associate partners and promise a paradise in return.

Therefore if some says to me that since I have questions and doubts(in meanings) about these so called miraculous event and then says thet God can do anything, seems like more of a cliche and then question my belief in God.
Do you think if i have a different opinion/interpretations on these super natural events, would that make me a non-believer to God??

In the modern world, there are countless extraordinary events and achievements by humans that, if people from the past were to witness them, they might find them unbelievable or even think of these individuals as magicians or messengers.

Just as someone once quoted that God will not intervene in human free will when addressing questions about human suffering, similarly, the natural laws/processes God created in the world will remain intact until the end of time.

So, I will say I am a believer in God and the scripture, but my interpretations of some of the supernatural events differ from the mainstream versions. Now will God question me on my different understanding of these events to decide my fate? a matter I leave to God.

[jkhan]

In the modern world, there are countless extraordinary events and achievements by humans that, if people from the past were to witness them, they might find them unbelievable or even think of these individuals as magicians or messengers.

May I know some of those abnormal events that you are referring..

Do you mean to say that whatever the Quran has stated as special signs/miracles is nothing compared to the modern extraordinary events you are referring to..? So, if those messengers who performed these miracles in the past happened to perform identical miracles/signs in today's era, that would be nothing to the people of now? In case that is what you meant.. remember, even in miracles, only believers believed in them not everyone.. The one who doesn't believe in verses of Allah won't believe even the miracles.. The Pharoh knew that it was a miracle but he rejected it..

Just leave miracles aside.. look at the below verse..

6111 And though We should send down the angels unto them, and the dead should speak unto them, and We should gather against them all things in array, they would not believe unless Allah so willed. But, most of them are ignorant.

So.. never underestimate the people of the past... They are smarter than us.. Vehement deniers.. Perhaps if such messengers performed same miracles with the permission of Allah, who knows the modern day people would have believed.. Allah knows the unknown...

[Fusion]

Sure, Jkhan, I am really happy to see your responses becoming more straightforward.

I respect the miracles in the Quran and know they are important as signs from God, however my interpretations for now is different. I just wanted to show that amazing events, whether ancient or modern, remind us of God’s power.

Belief in miracles is personal. It is up to each of us to look for and understand these signs through our own reflections and experiences.

Thank you

[good_logic]

Peace Fusion.

Of course you are entitled to believe your own conclusions according to your own research. That is exactly what I am saying to you.
You have to and you owe it to your soul and peace of mind to do so.

From my part I do not expect nor ask for agreement with others about my findings with theirs.
And there is nothing wrong in sharing views and disagreeing amicably.
Oh and to believe in GOD does not mean to agree with others interpretations of His words- Qoran- You can have your own take and rightly so.

Many verses we are still wrestling with now and we are getting them wrong but may be clear and evident to future generations like other verses that have been understood differently through the generations.. The changing knowledge through the time plays a big factor as well.

GOD bless you brother.
Peace.

[Wakas]

peace Fusion, all,

Re so-called isra and miraj
I prefer
https//mypercept.co.uk/articles/meaning-masjid-al-haram-Quran.html

IMHO the above article is ahead of its time (no pun intended).

[Anoushirvan]

Hello,

Coming back to the topic.

I want to list these miraculous events and ask everyone for their opinions as short. Do you believe in the literal translation, or do you have another interpretation? and if yes why do you believe these are Allegorical in understanding?

Those are obviously allegorical, but their understanding must not be done by guessing or at random.
The first point is to understand to whom the message was delivered in first place (i.e. not us in 21st CE) and what was their religious background.
We know today that Arabia at the beginning of the 7th CE was not polytheistic.
Qur'an message was therefore not addressed to polytheists.
We can even understand that from internal understanding of Qur'an in numerous places, Qur'an talks to "children of Israel". Most of the narrations are about biblical characters.

I will not show it here because it would be too long, but those "children of Israel" were actually Gnostics, so they practised a kind of Judaism that disappeared (or more accurately, became Islam as we know today), that Judaism was different from Rabbinic Judaism we know today.
We can think of this prior religion that saw emergence of Qur'an like a kind of Marabout Jewish Sufism with witchcraft and / or kabbalistic practices (like Islamic Sufism does in some countries).

With that background in mind, we have to learn how ancient Jewish scholars understood the Scriptures they didn't explain them through Greek or Latin philosophical pitch as we are used to, but mostly through new stories.
The process of explaining the Scriptures, the Divine Law, the Divine will at ancient Jewish scholars is called "midrash" (this word is cognate to Arabic madrasa).

So we need to learn and understand the Jewish midrash in order to grasp how the ancient Jewish scholars understood the Scriptures, hence to understand Qur'an.

This is why the interpretations of G.A. Perwez are mostly wrong.

1. Splitting of the Sea (Moses)

Reference Quran 2663 (Arabic "فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِعَصَاكَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَٱنفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَٱلطَّوْدِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ", English "So We inspired to Moses, 'Strike with your staff the sea,' and it split, and each part became like a great mountain.&quot
Traditional Interpretation A miraculous intervention by God, displaying His power to save Moses and the Israelites by parting the sea.

The staff is in principle the symbol of the lawgiver or ruler (I got that in a book in French, Germain Bienaimé Moïse et le don de l’eau dans la tradition juive ancienne, which itself refers to the Document of Damas).

The sea in ancient Jewish thinking usually symbolizes idolatry (because water is salty and cannot be drunk, unlike sweet water which symbolizes the divine Law and can be drunk at will).

The mountain usually symbolizes the Law (because the Law was given to Moses on a mountain, the mountain is also the connection between Earth and Heavens).

In addition to these Jewish symbols, it's likely that Qur'an wants us to hear "furqan" in "firqin" / part, because furqan means salvation (and not criterion like I often sees in translations).
Also Tawd / mountain is the only place where this word is used, I suspect that audience in the 7th CE knew also Syriac where tawd means religion or belief.

Basically this is allegory of Moses as lawgiver to the Children of Israel turned idolatry into Law and salvation.

2. The Virgin Birth (Jesus)
   Traditional Interpretation A divine miracle where Mary gives birth to Jesus without any male intervention, highlighting the miraculous power of God.
   Reference Quran 1920-21 (Arabic "قَالَتْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّۭا. قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ إِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ", English "She said, 'How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?' He said, 'Thus Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees something, He says to it only, 'Be,' and it is.&quot

GA Perwez's interpretation misses the whole point of this passage that Mary is reluctant to welcome the good news of the birth of Jesus.

Mary is not physical person, or does not need to be.
She symbolizes the community of the pious (the "muttaqi" that is free from idolatry, i.e. virgin) that is reluctant to accept the leading role of guiding people to world to come.
Qur'an uses the world "ghulam" for boy instead of usual "bin", which seems a curious choice.
But the reason is that ghulam is graphically close in Arabic to 'alam which means world.

In the Jewish thinking, the olam haba is the world to come, i.e. the fulfillment of the promise of salvation.

3. Reviving the Dead
   Traditional Interpretation Prophets like Jesus were given the power to revive the dead as a sign of their divine authority and God's supremacy by the order of God.
   Reference Quran 349 (Arabic "وَأُحْيِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ", English "And I give life to the dead by the permission of Allah.&quot

GA Pervez

GA Perwez's interpretation is mostly correct here.

4. The Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj)
   Traditional Interpretation A physical and/or spiritual journey undertaken by Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to heaven, affirming his prophethood and the miracles associated with it.
   Reference Quran 171 (Arabic "سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَىٰ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِي بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ", English "Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.&quot

I don't know what this one refers to, I'm not even sure it speaks of Qur'an messenger, seems rather Moses.

5. Creation of Adam
   Traditional Interpretation God created Adam from clay as the first human, breathing life into him, demonstrating God’s creative power.
   Reference Quran 3871-72 (Arabic "إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَـٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًۭا مِّن طِينٍۢ فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَـٰجِدِينَ", English "When your Lord said to the angels, 'Indeed, I am going to create a human being from clay. So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My soul, then fall down to him in prostration.'&quot

This verse is not about the creation of human species per se.
First of all, human being is the translation of "bashar", which is cognate to "bushra" which means good news.
Bushra, i.e. bessora in Hebrew, that has given evangelion in Greek, is a very important concept of the ancient Jewish thinking.
It is the annonciation of the salvation, end of exile, redemption, coming of the Messiah, etc.

The clay is a raw material, i.e. without knowledge of the divine Law, so again, it symbolizes idolatry.
It needs the Holy Spirit (the breath of God) to turn it into annonciation of salvation.

6. Solomon and the Ants
   Solomon was granted the ability to understand animals, demonstrating his unique prophetic wisdom. The story illustrates his compassion and awareness, as he heeds the warning of an ant to avoid harming it and its fellow ants unintentionally.
   Reference Quran 2718-19 (Arabic "حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ وَادِ ٱلنَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌۭ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّمْلُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ مَسَـٰكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَـٰنُ وَجُنُودُهُۥ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ", English "Until, when they came upon the valley of the ants, an ant said, 'O ants, enter your dwellings that you not be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they perceive not.'&quot

The story of Solomon and the ants exists also a Jewish midrash, though it is not clear who influenced who.
In fact, naml in Arabic means ant but also lie.
So the story is an allegory about Solomon destroying lies with truth without even caring.

7. Age of Noah

Traditional Interpretation Noah is one of the longest-lived prophets in Islamic tradition. According to the Quran, he preached to his people for 950 years before the great flood occurred. This extended lifespan is seen as a testament to his perseverance in delivering God's message despite the continued disbelief of his people.
Reference Quran 2914 (Arabic "وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَلَبِثَ فِيهِمْ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَامًا فَأَخَذَهُمُ الطُّوفَانُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ", English "And We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he remained among them a thousand years minus fifty years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers.&quot

I don't know about this one.

I have given an example translation from GA Pervez which is sort of complete extreme version of not taking things literally and my understanding differs from his but I quoted him as an example
For example His interpretation of the chapter 105 The elephand which atleast I grew up understanding from my elders is quite different I was told to believe the literal translation that أَبَابِيلَ i do not know carrying stones protected the sacred site by pelting the army, leading to their destruction.

See below

SURAH 105 Al-Fîl

This one is complicated.
For those who read French, here is a theory about it, that I don't share though https//www.lechampdumidrash.net/hadith-et-tradition-musulmane/les-elephants/